brought within the scope of the same requirement. Members who buy slaves except to emancipate them are to be expelled.

CHAPTER V

THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH

To one familiar with the course of events in England and America the complete separate organization of Methodism as a Church seems inevitable. The close of the Revolutionary War left no excuse for delay in forming that organization in America. Repeated requests had gone over to Wesley to do something for the flock; finally Asbury himself wrote that the demand for the sacraments and other Church privileges was imperative. After careful consideration Wesley resolved to act and to act promptly. No act in his life has subjected Wesley to such bitter criticism as the steps which he now took, though some critics have excused him on the ground of age or of overpersuasion. He was now eighty-two, but

in possession of his bodily and mental vigor to a remarkable degree, and continued to itinerate and to preach and write with his old power some years after this. So far from being overpersuaded he went about the matter with cool deliberation, himself taking the first step. On account of this criticism, however, it is fair to let Wesley speak for himself.

In February, 1784, Wesley called Coke into his study in City Road, London, and spoke to him in substance as follows: As the Revolution in America had separated the colonies from the mother country forever, and the Episcopal establishment was utterly abolished, the societies had been represented to him as in a most deplorable condition; that an appeal had been made through Mr. Asbury, in which he requested him to provide some mode of Church government suited to their exigencies; and that having long and seriously revolved the subject in his thoughts he had intended to adopt the

plan which he was now about to unfold; that as he had invariably endeavored in every step he had taken to keep as closely to the Bible as possible, so in the present decision he hoped he was not to deviate from it; that in keeping his eye upon the primitive Churches in the ages of unadulterated Christianity he had much admired the mode of ordaining bishops which the Church of Alexandria had practiced; (to preserve its purity that Church would never suffer the interference of a foreign bishop in any of their ordinations; but the presbyters on the death of a bishop exercised the right of ordaining another from their own body; and this practice continued among them for 200 years, till the days of Dionysius); and finally, that being himself a presbyter he wished Dr. Coke to accept ordination at his hands, and to proceed in that character to the continent of America to superintend the societies in the United States.

The matter was discussed in the Confer

ence of Leeds and favorably reported.

Vasey and Whatcoat by the Conference as Coke to help the work.

were designated men to go with These were or

dained elders by Wesley with the assistance of Creighton and Coke-both presbyters of the Church of England—and then Coke was ordained superintendent. Wesley presented them with the following documents which must be read by every one who would understand the origin of American Methodism as a separate Denomination.

I

"To all to whom these presents shall come, John Wesley, late fellow of Lincoln College in Oxford, Presbyter of the Church of England, sendeth greeting.

'Whereas many of the people in the southern provinces of North America who desire to continue under my care, and still adhere to the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England, are greatly distressed for want of ministers to administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper, according to the usage of the same Church; and whereas there does not appear to be