INCIDENTS AND CHARACTERS IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF METHODISM

By

The Reverend John Elmore DuBois

Edited by Elizabeth A. DuBois
(c) 1998  DuBois Publishing Co, Simsbury, Connecticut. All rights
reserved.

Six
Schism 


	I will now resume my narrative at the point at which I left off, when I
introduced the incident in the life of Rev. E.V. Levert, as furnished by
Col. Earnest of Birmingham.  "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity."  Such was the harmony of our
little village at the time of which I write, that we fully appreciated
the beautiful sentiment contained in this passage.  We were all of one
heart and one mind; and rejoiced in the smiles of true friendshipand the
delights of social life.  So beautiful was the spirit of peace and the
hallowed influences of Christian charity and unity, that even visitors
were impressed and spoke the praises of our society.  Mr. Win. Jemison
was a brother-in-law of Seaborn Mims.  He owned lands and mills on the
Scipsy, and in passing to and from Georgia, spent several days with us. 
He was a gentleman of intelligence, a close observer of men in the
domestic and social relations of life, and we esteemed it no ordinary
compliment when he said he almost envied us our happiness.  

	But the brightest day is sometimes followed by cloud and storm.  It wsa
in 1823, that the local preachers agitated the subject of reform.  Eli
Terry, Jacob and Henry Whetstone, and Joesph Walker met in council in
Vernon, to petition the General Conference to give local preachers
representation in the Annual Conferences.  This was the first move in
South Alabama for what is known in our history as the reform.  

	Moses Andrew, an eloquent local elder, a polished gentleman and an able
writer, took a decided stand against the movement, and fought it with
all the force of his vigorous intellect and the influence of a noble
character.  Wm. Terry, also a local preacher of avility and extensive
influence sent in a strong protest, and did all he could to avoid a
rupture.

	But, notwithstanding all this, the split came, and the reformers began
to preach in churches held in common.  The result was that conflicting
appointments occurred, and we had to relinquish many for the sake of
peace, and to avoid disgraceful rencounters.  Party spirit ran high. 
Strife and contention, crimination and recrimination, dicord and
disunion, were all around us and our peaceful Eden was soon the scene of
many unpleasant and adverse events.  Some of our young men--our Vernon
converts--went with them.  Among these were Absalom Jackson and Edmund
Harrison.  Jackson became a preacher among them.  The Bibbs, also, near
Montgomery and many others, became reformers.  This unfortunate schism
marred the peace amd happiness of many a soul, and checked for a while,
for still it rolls, and will continue to roll when reformers are
forgotten and the "iron wheel" man has faded even from the minds of
Anabaptists.

[to be continued]

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