Thomas Coke was born at Brecon, in Wales, on the 9th of September, 1747. His father was an eminent surgeon, and magistrate in Brecon, and gave his only child, Thomas, such an education as would qualify him for usefulness in after life. His mother was a Methodist, and died a member of the Wesleyan Society in Bristol. At a proper age, Thomas was placed under the charge of the Rev. Mr. Griffiths, master of the college school in Brecon, and at the age of sixteen, was entered at the University of Oxford as a gentleman commoner of Jesus College.

While at the University, his mind was poisoned with the principles of infidelity. These principles were easily instilled in to his youthful mind by the artifice and sophistry of his fellow students, many of whom were openly avowed infidels. The religious principles of Thomas, being thus tainted, very soon produced a pernicious influence upon his daily practice.

The company into which he was thrown, led him into scenes of dissipation and vice, at which his yet moral feelings often revolted, and had it not been for the loud upbraidings of his conscience, he would have fallen an easy prey to the natural passions of a depraved heart. But although by the influence of an enlightened mind, he was kept from the commission of the grosser crimes in which his associates greedily indulged, he yielded himself at once to the fashionable vices and follies which even the reputed virtue of the age did not hesitate to allow.

Young Coke, however, was far from being happy. Having sacrificed his religious principles upon the altar of infidelity, and having found the follies and sins of fashionable life insufficient to satisfy the longing desires of an immortal mind, he was illy [sic] at ease, and sighed in solitude for that peace of mind, which he had in some measure frequently enjoyed, but to which he was now an entire stranger. In this sorrowful state of mind, he paid a visit to a popular clergyman of the establishment in Wales. On Sunday the minister preached an able sermon on the more important doctrines of the Gospel, which served to convince his guest of the falsity of his skeptical principles, and the truthfulness of that system of faith which he had discarded. He began toward the close of the sermon, to resolve on an abandonment of his infidel sentiments, and on a return to the path of truth and virtue. On returning from church, while the heart of young Coke glowed with gratitude to the clergyman for his able defense of Christianity, and while he was proceeding to state the exercises of his own mind, and his desire to return to the path of duty, what was his astonishment when his reverend friend darkly smiled at his simplicity, and bluntly and frankly informed him that he himself was not a believer in Christianity, and that he did not believe a word of what he had been preaching!

As might have been expected, young Coke was exceedingly disgusted at such perfidy of conduct on the part of a professed minister of Jesus Christ, and yet, who was a frankly avowed infidel. Thomas, however, at this early age, was too much of a logician to lay the blame of his misconduct at the door of Christianity. He saw at once, that it was infidelity in disguise — a wolf in sheep’s clothing — Satan clothed in garments of light. He returned to Oxford with the fixed determination of either openly avowing the principles of infidelity, or taking such steps as should convince him of the truth of Christianity. To live “halting between two opinions,” was to him, as it is to all others who attempt it, a life of misery. Providentially falling in with Bishop Sherlock’s discourses and dissertations in favor of the Christian religion, he read them carefully, and meditated upon them prayerfully, and by the blessing of God was again confirmed in the truths of Christianity. Again was Coke a Christian in theory, and h is conversion thus far, resulted in his total abandonment of his infidel associates, and of their wicked practices.

At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Coke was chosen common councilman of the borough of Brecon, and at the age of twenty-five, was elected chief magistrate or mayor of the corporation, which important office he filled with great acceptability. The important station thus filled by him, bought him in contact with those who were possessed of much authority, both in civil and ecclesiastical affairs, and as Mr. Coke had now fully made up his mind to enter into orders, he was flattered by his influential friends to expect preferment in the Church. A prebend in the Cathedral of Worcester was held out to him, and other promises given of an exalted station in the Church, when he should enter into orders.

In June, 1775, he took his degree of Doctor of Civil Laws at the University, and having received ordination, he obtained a curacy in South Petherton, in Somersetshire. Although still a stranger to vital godliness, he entered on his new field of labor with an intense desire to be useful to his parishioners. This desire manifested itself in his animated manner, his burning zeal, and tender expostulations which were connected with all his pulpit performances. The result of such a kind of preaching, as they had before been unaccustomed to, served soon to enlarge his congregation to such an event, that the church became too small for their accommodation.

He therefore applied to the parish vestry to have a gallery built at the expense of the parish. His application, however, was unsuccessful, and he accordingly employed workmen, and built a large and handsome gallery at his own expense. This liberality on his part, was a matter of surprise to the honest farmers of his parish, who had never before seen things done in “that fashion,” while a few of the more knowing ones, suspected him to be tainted with Methodism.

Up to this time, however, he had had no intercourse whatever with the Methodists either as individuals or as a society, but shortly after this, Dr.

Coke was visited by Mr. Maxfield, one of Mr. Wesley’s preachers. The subject of their conversation during this first interview was the nature and necessity of the New Birth, the Witness of the Spirit, etc., which doctrines, although somewhat novel to Dr. Coke, commended themselves to his attention and candid inquiry. By subsequent interviews his mind became more and more enlightened, his doubts began to leave him, and in due season he became a sincere seeker of personal salvation. He accordingly availed himself of the knowledge to be derived from reading books which treated on the subjects of his inquiry. Among other works which fell into his hands, were “Fletcher’s Appeal” and his “Checks to Antinomianism,” and were the means of bringing him among the despised people called Methodists.

An incident is related as taking place about this time which is worthy of being noticed. A certain Mr. Hull, a pious Calvinistic dissenting minister, hearing something of Dr. Coke’s state of mind and wishing to assist him in his inquiries after truth, proposed having an interview with the Doctor; but such were the prejudices of the latter in reference to all who dissented from the Established Church, that he declined receiving a visit from Mr. Hull, neither would he go and visit the latter. A meeting, however, subsequently took place on neutral ground, when the doctor became convinced that piety and intelligence could exist out of the establishment. Mr. Hull appears to have been as sincerely desirous of knowing the truth, as was the Doctor himself. On one occasion while preaching to his congregation from the text, “Of a truth, I perceive God is no respecter of persons,” etc., he pledged himself to show the harmony existing between the Scriptures and the system of doctrine called Calvinism. But before he had advanced far in his discourse, he perceived that instead of there being a harmony existing between the two, there was in fact a perfect discordancy. He became embarrassed and bewildered, and was at length obliged to dismiss his congregation without having fulfilled his pledge. After due reflection and prayer he saw his error, and on the following Sabbath renounced his Calvinism, and preached the doctrine of God’s impartial love to all mankind; and God set his seal to his ministry, by giving him great success among the people.

While on a visit to a family in Devonshire, the Doctor learned that there was a poor laborer employed by the family who was a Methodist, and the leader of a small class. Soon the Doctor found him out, and after conversing freely on the subject of experimental religion, they had a season of prayer together. There was such a union of feeling between the learned Doctor of Laws and the poor laboring peasant, that the former ever after wanted to know more of the Methodists. Soon after his return to his parish, while preaching on the greatness of redeeming love, it pleased the God of grace to speak unutterable peace to his soul, so that his heart was “full of glory and of God.”

He soon announced the fact of his conversion from the pulpit, and laying aside his carefully prepared manuscripts, he began to preach extempore.

His exhortations were powerful his reproofs were cutting to the conscience of the sinner; and his general earnestness of manner began to give great offense, so much so indeed, that the parish was in a complete uproar — an uproar as great as if their minister had committed the crime of murder, and much more so than if he had been found overtaken in drunkenness, or had committed some other venial crime. Not only did the people of his own parish conspire against him, but the neighboring clergy who were rebuked by his zeal and labors, joined with his parishioners in raising the storm of opposition. At length, charges of irregularity, etc., were formally preferred against him to his bishop, but the bishop took no notice of the affair.

Another application was made to the Bishop of Bath and Wells, with no better success. His enemies at length applied to the rector to remove him from the parish; and on a certain Sabbath, without having given the Doctor any previous notice whatever of the intended dismissal, he was to the great satisfaction of his enemies, publicly discharged from the office of curate; and to add to his disgrace if possible, his foes caused the parish-bells to chime him out of doors.

The fact of his dismissal gave the Doctor very little uneasiness, but the manner of the same caused him some sorrow, especially as the precipitancy of the measure prevented his preaching a farewell discourse to the people.

His friends advised him on the two following Sabbaths, to place himself at the church doors as the congregation was coming out, and preach to those who were willing to hear him. He did so, and was permitted to preach without molestation to both friends and foes. On giving out an appointment for the next Sabbath at the same place, his enemies became perfectly exasperated, and threatened to stone him if he made the attempt. The attempt, however, was made with full success, not withstanding the precaution of his enemies in having collected together a large pile of stones to throw at the Doctor. Among his friends present were a young gentleman and his sister, who, when the Doctor began to preach, placed themselves on either side of him, while others of his friends and the lovers of religious liberty rallied round him so closely, that it became a matter of prudent calculation among his foes, who should “cast the first stone.” The result was, that he finished his discourse without any interruption whatever.

As Dr. Coke was now released from his parish on account of his Methodism, he was at liberty to form a connection with Mr. Wesley, which he did in 1776. At the Conference of 1778, he was stationed in London, where his popularity was very great, and his congregation was exceedingly large. In 1780, the Doctor received no particular circuit, but traveled from this time forward while in England all over the connection according to the directions of Mr. Wesley. In the course of his travels he visited his former parish, but such in the meantime had been the change of public sentiment in relation to him, that those who a few years before had chimed him out of his church, now rung him in, and thus in part atoned for their former error and prejudice.

Mr. Wesley’s celebrated deed of Declaration was mostly drawn up by Dr.

Coke, in 1783, and during the previous year the Doctor had been commissioned by Mr. Wesley to hold the first Irish Conference, which he did greatly to the satisfaction of the preachers over whom he presided. This post of honor, he also filled for nearly thirty years, an evidence of the high estimation in which he was held by Mr. Wesley, the English Conference, and the Irish brethren.

In the year 1784, Mr. Wesley with the most parental regard for his Societies in America, saw fit to empower Dr. Coke to proceed to that distant field of labor, and organize such Societies into an independent Methodist Church. Methodism had been introduced into America, in the year 1766, by the preaching of Philip Embury, an Irish emigrant. After that period, it had increased to such an extent, as to require many preachers, some of whom were sent from England from time to time as missionaries, by Mr. Wesley. In the year 1776, American Independence was declared by the Continental Congress, and all connection between Church and State in America ceased, properly speaking, from this period. Hitherto the Societies in the colonies had been considered by the Father of Methodism, and by the preachers generally, as Societies simply, and as being merely an appendage, or addition to the Church of England. During the war, however, the most of the Episcopal Clergy, had forsaken their flocks, and on political grounds had returned to England. As the Methodist preachers were unordained, themselves and flocks looked exclusively to the Episcopal Clergy, for the sacramental ordinances; and as the most of the Clergy had left as above described, the consequence was, that the Methodists for seven or eight years, were deprived of these ordinances almost entirely. Petitions were frequently sent to Mr. Wesley for relief, and at the close of the war, as the ecclesiastical, as well as the civil relation of the colonies was now completely severed between them and Great Britain, it became necessary for Mr. Wesley to provide for his “sheep in the wilderness.”

Accordingly, after due consultation with several eminent divines in England, and being convinced that the high Church claim of uninterrupted succession was a mere chimera of the brain, and that he himself was as much a bishop in the proper sense of that term, as any man in England, Mr. Wesley on the 2d day of September, 1784, set apart by the imposition of hands, and prayer, Dr. Coke as a superintendent or bishop of the Societies in America. He also commissioned him to organize in due form an Episcopal Church, preferring as he did, this form of Church government, to every other. He also instructed him to set apart Francis Asbury as joint Superintendent of the Church. After receiving ordination, Dr. Coke sailed for America, and arrived in New York, on the 3d of November — following. He proceeded with the approbation of the preachers, to call an extraordinary session of the Conference to meet in Baltimore on the 25th day of December of the same year. In obedience to this call, a large majority of the preachers met on the day appointed, at which time, the Doctor explained the steps taken by Mr. Wesley for their relief. The Conference then resolved itself into the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States of America, and as the Doctor was unwilling to serve as their bishop — although set apart to the office by Mr. Wesley himself — unless the Conference would elect him by their own suffrages to that office, they proceeded to elect him to the said office, and in further accordance with the expressed wishes of Mr. Wesley, to elect Francis Asbury to the same office as joint Superintendent, the latter being publicly and solemnly ordained by Bishop Coke. The preachers who were present, and who were eligible, were ordained deacons of the Church, and authorized to baptize and celebrate marriage, and a few of the senior ones, were ordained elders.

After these transactions the Conference adjourned, the preachers returning to their respective fields of labor, and meeting everywhere with the congratulations of the people in view of their new position as a distinct ecclesiastical body.

The lapse of nearly seventy years since the organization of the church [Gorrie writing in 1853], has proved the far-seeing wisdom of Mr. Wesley, and the deep penetration of Dr. Coke, in providing for the future wellbeing of the infant American Societies, which have since become the most numerous Protestant people, both as it respects members and adherents, that exists on the American continent.

Immediately after the adjournment of the General Conference of 1784, Bishop Coke took his leave of Baltimore and began a course of extensive travel through the United States, visiting the Societies and being everywhere received as the messenger of God. He also in connection with Bishop Asbury, collected funds for the establishment of a Methodist College near Baltimore. This edifice, however, a few years subsequently fell a prey to the ravages of fire, and although another suitable building was afterwards procured in the city of Baltimore, that, like the former, was consumed by fire.

Having discharged the duty assigned him by Mr. Wesley, in the organization of the church, and having made proper provision for its government, and believing that his services were not immediately called for in America, on the 3d of June, 1785, he bade a partial farewell to the American church, and returned to England. After having reached the shores of his native land, he commenced traveling through different parts of the kingdom, visiting Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man, and everywhere endeavoring to awaken an interest in behalf of the American church, as also, in behalf of the Methodists of Nova Scotia.

On the 24th of September, 1786, he again set sail for America, intending to stop at Halifax by the way, and establish a mission in that place. But his voyage on this occasion was attended by many dangers and disasters, so much so that he did not reach Halifax at all. For the first five days after his embarkation, the ship made no progress in consequence of head winds. On the 28th of September, they were nearly run down by another vessel. On the 30th, they were forced to take shelter in the harbor of St. Helena, where they remained for some days, and it was not until the 14th of October that they were able to put out to sea with the prospect of a safe and speedy voyage. After being out three days, they discovered that the vessel had sprung a leak, and to add to the danger, the leak was in a part of the ship where it could not be reached, and to heighten their alarm for the safety of the ship, a violent gale arose, which increased the leak. They, however, continued on the wide ocean, the sport of the winds and waves, until the 25th of November, when one of the masts gave way, and on the 30th, a storm still more fierce and terrible threatened them with seemingly inevitable destruction. The captain’s wife cried out in the most frantic manner, and one of the passengers ran to the Doctor, saying, “Pray for us, Doctor, pray for us; we are just gone!” The ship was indeed on her beamends, and the crew were cutting away the main-mast, as the only remedy.

Dr. Coke and his companions went to prayer and soon the ship righted, without having to cut away the maSt. On the night of the 4th December, they experienced another dreadful gale.

The leak in the ship increased, the sails were torn to fragments, and some of the rigging was carried away. On the next day, it was determined by the captain and crew to make one of the West India Islands, if possible. Still the storm raged, and Dr. Coke and his associates betook themselves to prayer, but the captain, instead of joining in their devotions, became superstitiously agitated, and imagining he must have a Jonah on board, paced the deck in a state bordering on that of frenzy. At length he entered the Doctor’s cabin in a paroxysm of rage, seized his papers and books, and threw them overboard, and then proceeded to the Doctor to bestow upon him like treatment, but after grasping the Doctor’s person, and shaking him violently, with oaths and curses and the most bitter language, he concluded to let poor “Jonah” escape for this time, but declaring, with an oath, that if he made another prayer on board, he would throw the Doctor after his papers. After the gale had subsided, however, the captain’s good nature returned, and continued during the remainder of the voyage.

On the 25th of December, the weather-beaten bark reached the island of Antigua, and the Doctor on going on shore, much to his gratification, found a Mr. Baxter, a member of the Society, who was employed as a shipbuilder in the Government dockyard at Antigua. A Methodist Society had been in existence in this island for a number of years, a Mr. Gilbert, speaker of the House of Assembly, having introduced Methodism about thirty years previously. After his death, Mr. Baxter, above alluded to, on his arrival, found the remnant of a Society which had been raised by Mr. Gilbert. Being himself a local preacher, he felt it his duty to preach occasionally, and through his instrumentality the Society became enlarged to the number of two thousand persons, mostly blacks, and a neat chapel had been erected in 1783.

As the Doctor was obliged to wait for the sailing of a ship for the American Continent, he spent his time on this and other islands, in preaching and visiting both whites and blacks; and so great was the estimation in which he was held by the former class, that he was offered 500 Pounds (two thousand dollars) a year, if he would remain among them.

He was also cordially received by the higher circles in society, and had the honor of dining on one occasion with the Duke of Clarence, afterward William the Fourth, King of Great Britain, who happened at that period to be on the island.

While visiting the island of St. Eustatius, Dr. Coke became acquainted with the history of a poor Negro, named Harry, whose pious labors for the salvation of souls, and his heroic fortitude under persecution, deserve to be long remembered. Harry had been a slave on the American Continent, and had been imported from thence to Antigua. He had been a member of the Methodist Society in America, and on his arrival on the island he found himself destitute of pious associates, and of the means of grace. He had, however, a burning zeal for the salvation of souls, which led him, in his way, to bear public testimony for Christ among his fellowslaves. The novelty of a Negro slave’s preaching, drew many, both white and black, to hear him, and among the rest, the Governor of the island, who approved of his course. Under the labors of Black Harry, a reformation among the Negroes took place. As is characteristic of that people, there was much enthusiasm, and perhaps some wild fire among the converts, which so discomposed the minds of the planters, and especially of the Governor, that Harry was peremptorily ordered by the latter to stop his preaching.

Harry was obedient to the mandate for some time, till at length supposing that the storm had blown over, he ventured to pray with his associates. A complaint, however, was lodged against him, and he was sentenced by the governor to be publicly whipped, imprisoned, and banished from the island.

The sentence was executed to the letter, and after his imprisonment he was secretly removed by the authorities, so that nearly all were ignorant of his fate. Prayer, however, was offered for him, not only in the islands, but in England where his history had become known. About ten years afterwards, Dr. Coke had the pleasure of meeting this sable son of affliction in the United States, and learned to his satisfaction that Harry, whom he feared was dead, was still alive, in possession of his freedom; and better than all, still on his way to the Kingdom.

In February, 1787, Dr. Coke left the West India Islands, after having made arrangements to afford them a partial supply of preachers and missionaries, and in eighteen days arrived in Charleston, S. C. During this second visit to America the Doctor was greeted with great affection and esteem, except by a few who were not on very friendly terms with him, on account of his known hostility to the institution of American slavery. At that early day, as now, the interests of this institution were watched with a jealous eye; and the man who dared openly to lift his voice against it, might expect opposition. As Dr. Coke, during his former as well as his present visit, considered it his duty thus to oppose slavery in all its forms, a degree of unreasonable hostility was evinced by some against him. A bill of indictment was found against the doctor by a southern grand jury, and ninety men went in pursuit of him to force him back to the county where the bill had been found. They, however, did not proceed far before they grew weary of their journey, and returned without him. From the south the Doctor proceeded northward, and after having spent about three months in traveling from place to place, in the latter part of May he sailed from the port of Philadelphia for Dublin, where he found the Irish Conference in session with Mr. Wesley presiding. From Ireland he proceeded with Mr. Wesley to England and the Norman Isles, and spent all his time during this year in aiding Mr. Wesley in his arduous work.

After the English Conference of 1788, Dr. Coke and three missionaries sailed for the West Indies, where he remained visiting from island to island, and establishing missions, until the next February, when he again set sail for the United States. On his arrival at Charleston, S. C., he immediately directed his course northward for the purpose of meeting Bishop Asbury, and attending the Conferences in connection with him. During this, his third visit, he remained from February to June, traveling through nearly all the States, and performing a vast amount of labor.

On the 5th of June, 1789, he sailed for Liverpool, which he reached on the 17th of July following, and immediately proceeded to the Conference to plead the cause of the poor West India Negroes, and beg for missionaries.

The Conference appointed him an agent to collect funds to sustain the missionaries; and for the ensuing sixteen months, in this department of the work he was greatly successful, not only in securing pecuniary aid, but in awakening missionary zeal among the Methodists of England, which has not abated to the present day.

In October, 1790, he again sailed for the West Indies in company with a reinforcement of missionaries. After his arrival he found that the work of God had been spreading in the islands during his absence. While preaching in one of the islands on a certain occasion, — the room having been formerly a theater, — such was the power of the Doctor’s eloquence that the audience became perfectly enraptured, and strangely forgetting the occasion, if they remembered the place, gave vent to their approbation by crying out, Encore! encore!’’ — a French theatrical phrase, which means a repetition of the performance. He was not, however, so popular in some other places, nor were his sermons always so well appreciated as by the Shakespearean congregation alluded to above. Some of the newspapers teemed with malicious libels against him. It was even asserted that he had been tried in England for horse-stealing, and had come to America to escape the gallows. Riots were frequent, and when in one case, the rioters were complained of to the grand jury, the latter dignified body gave it as their opinion, that both the preacher and the chapel ought to be indicted as nuisances.

In February, 1791, he again landed in Charleston, S. C., for the purpose of making a fourth visit to the United States brethren. He met the Conference which was in session in Charleston, and after its adjournment proceeded on a tour of visitation, which he continued until the fourteenth of May when, having heard of the death of Mr. Wesley, he returned to England to join his tears and sorrows with those of his ministerial and lay brethren at home.

At the ensuing English Conference, Dr. Coke was elected Secretary of the same, an evidence of the high estimation in which he was held by his English brethren. Some time after this he visited France for the purpose of introducing Wesleyan missionaries into that nation, and then returned to London for the purpose of preparing a life of Mr. Wesley for the press, where he remained until after the next Conference, when he again sailed for the United States. After his arrival he attended the Conferences, and traveled over different States of the Union until December, when he made another visit to the West Indies, where the fires of persecution had been raging violently against the Methodists since the time of his former visit.

But notwithstanding these persecutions Methodism by the blessing of God continued to spread, so that at this period the number of members in Society was not far from seven thousand, with twelve regular missionaries, and ten mission stations. Having met these missionaries in Conference, he sailed for England, where he arrived in June, 1793.

On his visit to one of the West India islands, — St. Vincent — he found Rev. Mr. Lamb, the missionary in that island, confined in the common jail, for having dared to preach the Gospel without a license from the legislature of the island, which no one could obtain until they had resided twelve months on the island. Rectors of parishes, were exempt from the requirements of this law. The penalty for violating this law was, for the first offense, fine, or imprisonment for from thirty to ninety days; second offense, whipping, and banishment; and a return from banishment, death!

As Mr. Lamb had preached in the chapel, he as above stated, was undergoing the sentence of the law, being confined in the same room with a capitally convicted criminal. An effort was made by the Doctor to procure the liberation of Mr. Lamb, but this he could not succeed in doing, unless he would pay an exorbitant fine, which had been imposed in addition to the imprisonment, which fine, neither Dr. Coke, nor Mr. Lamb would consent to pay, as they would thereby seem to acknowledge the justice of the law. As soon, therefore, as the Doctor arrived in England, he posted with all speed to the colonial office, and made a proper statement of facts to the Home government; and in a short time he had the satisfaction of being officially informed by one of his majesty’s secretaries of state, that the law under which Mr. Lamb was imprisoned had been repealed by the supreme power. The Doctor also visited Holland for the purpose, if possible, of obtaining permission of the Dutch Government for Missionaries to be allowed to preach in the Dutch West India islands, but all his efforts, although backed up by the recommendation of the Right Hon. Henry Dundas, one of his British Majesty’s secretaries of state, were ineffectual in gaining the desired permission.

The Doctor next projected the establishment of a Wesleyan mission in the neighborhood of Sierra Leone, Africa; and for this purpose he traveled extensively for the collection of funds, as also to provide suitable persons to undertake the mission. After a length of time, some five or six respectable and professedly-pious mechanics, and their wives, were engaged to emigrate for the purpose of teaching the arts of civilization to the African race. But although thus successful in obtaining money and persons for the mission, and these persons actually went to Africa, yet partly through the secular nature of the intended enterprise, and mostly through the unworthiness of some of the persons selected, the mission for that time proved a failure; but still the Doctor continued his efforts in behalf of various missions, approaching high and low, rich and poor, and not without success. On one occasion he called on the captain of a British frigate, and pleaded the cause of the poor Negro, and received from the captain a handsome donation. As the latter was totally unacquainted with Dr. Coke, he afterwards made inquiry of a gentleman in reference to him, “Pray, Sir,” said the captain, “do you know anything of a little follow, who calls himself Dr. Coke, who is going about begging money for missionaries to be sent among the slaves?” “I know him well,” was the reply. “He seems,” said the Captain, “to be a heavenly minded little devil, he coaxed me out of two guineas this morning.

On the 6th of August 1796, Dr. Coke again set sail for America. He had paid eighty guineas for his passage, but soon found that the provisions, etc., laid in for the voyage, were of the meanest and coarsest quality. To add to the wrong thus practiced upon the passengers the captain was one of the most abandoned wretches, that ever walked the deck of a ship, and who conspired with another captain who was on board, to make the voyage as disagreeable to the Doctor as possible. The treatment received by the latter, brought on a fit of sickness, which lasted three weeks. After having been to sea some weeks, they came across the wreck of a ship, with the remainder of the crew in a most wretched situation. These poor fellows were rescued from a watery grave, and from death by starvation, and on the 3d of October came in sight of the American shore.

Dr. Coke immediately on his arrival, proceeded to Baltimore, and subsequently attended the sessions of the Conference, and traveled and preached extensively for four months, when he again returned to Europe.

On the passage homeward, an amusing instance of a sailor’s simplicity occurred, which is worth recording. When the ship left Charleston, they were wafted by a severe gale across the Atlantic, so that in four weeks they made the Irish Channel. The gale now gave place to a great calm, which lasted for sixteen days. The Captain attributed this calm to Dr. Coke’s reading a large folio volume. During the first few days, he hinted his wishes that the perusal of the book was finished. Growing out of patience, he at last told the Doctor, that they never would have a wind, till the reading of that book was finished. The Doctor at once offered to lay the book aside; “No, no,” rejoined the Captain, “that will not do; it must be finished, or we shall have no wind.” The Doctor to please him finished the book as rapidly as possible, and just as he had finished the wind sprung up, and in thirty-six hours, they were wafted into harbor.

Before leaving America the last time, the Doctor had made up his mind to comply with the wishes of the American preachers to settle permanently among them, and engaged himself to do so after having made another visit to England. The English Conference, however, could not consent to his leaving them, and requested the American brethren to cancel the Doctor’s engagements in this respect, and allow him to settle in England. Having remained in the latter country about four months, he again embarked for America, where he remained until the spring of 1798, attending to all his duties as a Superintendent, or bishop of the Church. The General Conference having taken into consideration the urgent request of the British Conference, consented to “lend” the Doctor to the latter for a season only.

On his return to England, he resumed his labors of preaching, and writing, besides soliciting aid for missions. He also projected a plan for the introduction of a Protestant ministry among the degraded Romish peasantry of Ireland. He also obtained the rescinding of a municipal law by which the inhabitants of the isles of Jersey, and Guernsey, were required to attend military trainings on the Sabbath, on pain of banishment from the islands. Some correspondence also passed between him and the Bishopof London and the Archbishop of Canterbury in relation to the propriety of their lordships’ making some provision whereby a total separation of the Methodists in England, from the establishment, might be prevented. The bishops returned courteous answers, but declined making the desired provision by ordaining any of the preachers.

In 1800, Dr. Coke made his eighth visit to America, where he spent several months in the discharge of the usual duties of his high and holy office. He also visited the West Indies, and near the close of the year returned to England. After his arrival, he formed a plan for the introduction of Wesleyan Methodism into Wales, by which the natives of that principality might hear the doctrines of a free and full salvation proclaimed in the Welsh tongue. This enterprise, when first mentioned, was thought to be altogether too romantic a one to be seriously engaged in; but otherwise thought Dr. Coke, and the lapse of ten years proved that the object was not a mere visionary one, as the sixty Wesleyan chapels, the thirty-six traveling preachers, and the five thousand members of that period, abundantly proved.

In the year 1801, Dr. Coke published his Commentary on the Old Testament, a work which nine years previously, at the request of the English Conference, he had began to prepare. It was issued in numbers, and met with a ready sale, the delivery of those on the New Testament being completed in 1807.

In 1803, he made his ninth and last visit to the United States. Here he spent several mouths, presiding in the Conference, and traveling extensively, until his return to England in 1804. In 1805, he was united in marriage to a Miss Smith, of Bradford, Wiltshire. This lady, possessed of an independent fortune, was every way worthy of so distinguished a companion as Dr.

Coke. His first acquaintance with her, was formed by soliciting aid for missions. On being recommended by a friend to apply to the lady for aid, she generously subscribed one hundred guineas, nearly $500. On calling on her at her residence, to receive the above, the lady doubled the amount, and gave him two hundred guineas. The Doctor, admiring such acts of benevolence, contracted marriage with the lady. She only lived in his society till 1811, when she died in London, having in the meantime, devoted a large share of her wealth to the cause of spreading scriptural holiness through the world.

After his marriage, the Doctor still continued to devote himself to the good of mankind, by writing, preaching, praying, begging for missions, and keeping a constant lookout for any encroachment upon the rights and privileges of the Societies at home by the Government, or its officers; and of those of the preachers and Negroes in the West Indies, by the colonial authorities; and such was his influence with the King and his privy council, that scarcely any remonstrance that he presented to them, was unheeded, or any grievance complained of, unredressed. The Doctor also gave from his own private purse, nearly three thousand dollars, for the establishment of a mission in Sierra Leone.

After the death of his beloved wife, he married again. The maiden name of the latter lady was Miss Ann Loxdale, of Liverpool, who had for a number of years been an esteemed member of the Methodist Society in that city.

But, alas! for human hopes, she too, died in about a year after her marriage, and her remains were deposited beside those of his former companion, in the family vault in Wales.

In 1813, Dr. Coke conceived the Utopian plan of visiting India, and of personally superintending the establishment of a mission in that distant land. He found seven preachers who were willing to volunteer for that field of labor, whose names he presented to the Conference. The only objection to the establishment of the mission, was the cost of the outfit, nearly $27,000. To remove this objection, the Doctor offered to bear the whole expense himself, and accordingly, with the approbation and prayers of the Conference, the party sailed from England on the 31st of October. The missionaries continued their voyage until the 3d of May following, at which time they were in the Indian Ocean. Nothing special had transpired, except the death of one of the female missionaries. On the 1st of May, Dr. Coke felt somewhat unwell, and took a little medicine. On the 2d, he was still a little indisposed, but was up on deck. On the morning of the 3d, his servant knocked at his cabin-door, when receiving no response, he ventured to open the door, and to his utter astonishment found the Doctor lying on the floor, lifeless and cold. His death was no doubt caused by a fit of apoplexy, and it being impossible to preserve the body so as to send it to England, it was enclosed in a heavy coffin, and amidst the tears and prayers of his pious, but now forsaken associates, was committed to the bosom of the great deep.