In the month of January, 1782, he mentions that
" there is considerable distress amongst our societies,
caused by some of the local preachers, who are not
satisfied unless they administer the ordinances with-
out order or ordination; and the whole circuit ap-
pears to be more or less tinctured with their spirit."
Again he says : " I find the party men among our so-
cieties grow weak, and I am persuaded this division
will cause the sincere among preachers and people to
cleave closer to doctrine and discipline, and may be
the means of purging our societies of those who are
corrupt in their principles." *

All this shows that, notwithstanding the action of
the Conference, there was still considerable dissatis-
faction among the people in the South because they
were without the sacraments. It is probable, also,
that prominent preachers sympathized with this
feeling.
