554 History of Methodism 



apparent throughout his whole life. His journal 

 abounds with notices of his having often preached on 

 the subject, and shows the earnest solicitude which 

 characterized all his labors in this department of 

 Christian effort. Like a true philosopher, he knew that 

 the hope of the country depended upon the proper edu- 

 cation of the young, and like a wise master-builder in 

 the erection of the Christian edifice, he was fully im- 

 pressed with the fact that the hope of the Church, as 

 it regarded its symmetry, beauty, and strength, de- 

 pended on the rising generation. Accordingly he had 

 incorporated in 1784 in the section of the Discipline 

 which defined the duties of ministers of the gospel, 

 " 5. Preach expressly on education." As early as 1780 

 at the house of Mr. Bustion, a principal member in 

 the Roanoke Circuit in North Carolina, at that time 

 served by John Dickins, he invoked the counsel and aid 

 of the latter in perfecting and carrying out his plans. 

 Mr. Dickins was educated at Eton College in England, 

 and was held in great esteem by the bishop, who de- 

 scribes him as " a man of great piety, great skill in 

 learning, drinks in Greek and Latin swiftly; yet prays 

 much, and walks close with God." 



Monday, June 19. Eose about five o'clock. Brother Dickins 

 drew the subscription for a Kingswood School in America ; this is 

 what came out a college in the subscription printed by Dr. Coke. 

 Gabriel Long and Brother Bustion were the first subscribers, which 

 I hope will be for the glory of God and good of thousands. 



His system embraced a central institution with a 

 school or college for each district or Conference (for 

 the terms were then synonymous) throughout the 

 Connection. This system was indorsed by Dr. Coke 

 without essential change; and after a careful inspec- 

 tion, he selected a site for Cokesbury College (so 



