To state the matter in brief, the vital question was
whether Mr. Wesley should have power to control in
American affairs. The Conference settled it by refus-
ing to set apart for the superintendency the persons
iie had named, and by striking out the paragraph in



'The CoNFBRENCBjs From 1785 to 1789. 291

which the Christmas Conference had agreed to obey
his commands. The Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in the United States of America
had decided that it would govern the Church, and
that neither Mr. Wesley nor any other individual at
home or abroad should rule either the Conference or
the Church represented by the Conference. The action
was an ecclesiastical Declaration of Independence.
However, there was not universal satisfaction in
America; for the reverence for Mr. Wesley was
very great. Dr. Phoebus tells us : " This was a time
of trial with many, who laid it to heart. It was
feared that part would continue a society, or form
again under Mr. Wesley, independent of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church in America. Many felt like
being scattered, when the shepherd had received so
many blows from his friends." '■

Mr. Snethen says the removal of Wesley's name
from the Minutes, as it was commonly termed, "gave
rise to feelings of a very unpleasant nature. Dr.
