199 years of Methodism

Dr Coke and Methodist Day:

Richard Dwight

To Methodist all over the island, June 29 is a day of thanksgiving and rejoicing.

Its significance lay in the historical fact, that was on this day 199 years ago, that Methodism was brought across, with the landing of the early Missionaries on the beaches of Galle and Weligama.

Much has been said and written concerning John Wesley, that revered servant of God, the founder of Methodism. But little or no emphasis is made of the man Dr Thomas Coke, who was directly responsible in ensuring that Methodism took root in Ceylon as the country was then known.

We will do well therefore, with the young in mind to briefly touch on this man endowed, with far sighted vision.

Apart from the Wesley brothers John and Charles, Coke in his own right was an equally arresting figure during the period 1780 to 1814.

We learn that Dr Thomas Coke was born in 1747 in Brecon, South Wales and through the years was empowered with a legal mind from Oxford. He was found to be a man with unflagging zeal and fervour. Coke was quite liberal with his purse and gave generously.

His over reacting ways, mercurial at time and boundless enthusiasm, cost him his curacy at Somerset. This did lead him to join Wesley in 1777.

And right at the outset, Coke had asked Wesley what he should do if driven from his parish. The characteristic reply from this old evangelist was 'Go and preach the gospel to the Whole World.'

This was deeply etched in Coke's memory and, the obedience to the instruction received was seen many years later. Dr Thomas Coke was made use of in different ways and at times, was the substitute for the leader Wesley himself, and was his regular representative at the Irish conference as well.

He was regarded as a touring evangelist and with his agile legal brain, was outspoken and stood for that which was right. His 'Plan for the establishment of missions amongst the heathen' published in 1784 without Wesley's authority found Wesley for the moment lying low and not sharing in Coke's intemperate enthusiasm.

To be continued