One of these originated among the Methodists at the time of the establishment of the American colonies, and the subject of church government became a matter of discussion among them. Thomas Coke, Francis Asbury and others labored to establish prelacy, regarding themselves as superintendents or bishops. Against this movement, James O’Kelley, of North Carolina, and some others of that State and of Virginia, with a number of members, pleaded for a congregational system, and that the New Testament be the only creed and discipline. Those contending for the episcopal form of government were largely in the majority, and the reformers were unable to accomplish their wishes. Led by James O’Kelley, they finally seceded at Mankintown, N. C., Dec. 25, 1793. McTiere says: “The spirit of division prevailed chiefly in the southern part of Virginia, and in the border counties of North Carolina, in all of which region the personal influence of O’Kelley has been seen. It extended also beyond these limits. We find the first two missionaries in Kentucky—Ogden and Haw—drawn away into his scheme. And in other places he had adherents” (History of Methodism, page 411). At first they took the name “Republican Methodists,” but in 1801 “resolved to be known as Christians only, to acknowledge no head over the Church but Christ, and to have no creed or discipline but the Bible.” In respect to increase of numbers, this movement was not great, and in the course of time was weakened by changes and removals, but its principles spread into other States. About the same time Abner Jones, a physician, of Hartland, Vt., then a member of the Baptist Church, became “greatly dissatisfied with sectarian names and creeds, began to preach that all these should be abolished, and that true piety should be made the ground of Christian fellowship. In September, 1800, he succeeded by persevering zeal in establishing a church of twenty-five members at Lyndon, Vt., and subsequently one in Bradford and one in Piermont, N. H., in March, 1803.” Elias Smith, a Baptist preacher, who was about this time laboring with much success in Plymouth, N. H., adopted Jones’ view and carried the whole congregation with him. Several other preachers, both from the Regular and Freewill Baptists, soon followed, and with many other zealous preachers, who were raised up in the newly-organized churches, traveled extensively over the New England states, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and into Canada, and made many converts. Those in this movement also called themselves Christians only, and adopted the Bible as their only rule of faith and practice.