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The Journal and Letters of Francis Asbury - Volume 2
Chapter 9
FROM THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1804 TO THE END OF 1806
May 31, 1804 December 27, 1806
George Roberts had been a problem to Asbury. For some reason Asbury thought Roberts had been thinking of becoming an Episcopal preacher in New York. In this letter Asbury feels that Roberts is not willing to go where he may be sent. However, Roberts did move to Baltimore in 1804. He stayed there until 1806 and then located to practice medicine and support his family m Philadelphia, He also became a local preacher and was loyal to the church. He had a record of devoted service.
SOUDERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
May 31, 1804[The date and place are not given; however, it seems clear that this letter was written at the Philadelphia Conference. It was evidently written before the letter of June, 1804.]
To George Roberts
My dear Brother:
I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ to preach the Word. If you love me, now is the time to show it. I fear there is something at the bottom. What have you wanted The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. How do you know but this is a judicial dispensation to beat off your hold from earth. You wrote me you were studying Physic. I felt! Your brethren have heard and felt, and have had their confidence perhaps shaken. What is hidden in our Connection God will correct us by each other. If you leave the work, if you dare, let God himself vindicate his own cause. How will your enemies colour away ---- and say you meant to settle in Philadelphia, locate, and attach yourself to those people.
If you do not consent to take Baltimore 3 or six months as your family will permit, I prophesy evil concerning you and your house and when I find men will not be persuaded, I give them up, and consent that they shall do as they will do. I had my fears about the Lectures.[ Roberts took time for either study or lecturing.] I felt! In prudence I did not reply.
I am your aggrieved brother, father and friend,
F. Asbury
P.S. I have not time to write nor dry my letters.
Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference (Lovely Lane Museum)
Though George Roberts had been in an uncomfortable situation in Philadelphia due to the friction over the division of the churches, he evidently did not want to move. Very probably the extended entry of June 24 in the Journal is a reference to Roberts as well as to others. It is an interesting account of the reactions of preachers to their appointments.
June -, 1804[This letter was dated only 1804, probably New York State.]
To George Roberts[In 1804 George Roberts was moved from Philadelphia to Baltimore. (See Minutes, 1804.)]
O my Brother:
I am sorry you should think I am under unfavorable impressions concerning you. But how many stock bricks must I take out of the wall before it is finished. How shall I cover my retreat in Brother Wells[Joshua Wells was appointed to Philadelphia in George Roberts' place. (See Minutes, 1804.)] appointment, he protested seriously against going to Philadelphia, you must get his consent to go to Philadelphia. I shall not appoint Brother Bunn,[ Seely Bunn had been pastor of the Baltimore Circuit and was changed to Washington City and Georgetown. (See Minutes, 1804.)] this I can cope with. But so it is I am out at sea some leagues. I am lost upon the sea of changes like a cork upon the water. Oh, any port in a storm, it is like the sailor. I am yours still,
F.Ay.
Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference (Lovely Lane Museum)
The envelope of this letter is addressed to "Major Van Cortlandt, Peeks Kill State of York." At another place on the envelope there is "Turkeyhoe Tuckahoe, the Sherwood house in New York, June 20, 1804" It seems that the letter was written on that date. This letter was found among the Van Cortlandt collection in the New York Public Library. Was this "Governor" Van Cortlandt or his son to whom Asbury has written He refers to visiting the "Governor" in 1799. This letter is the same general pattern as the letter of August 29, 1797, but is evidently to another person. Asbury is pleading with him to become a Christian. "Governor" Van Cortlandt was already a Christian; and Boehm, Tipple, and others say he was a Methodist. This letter was evidently written to "Governor" Van Cortlandt's son, Pierre, Jr.
June 20, 1804 [This date is on the envelope but may be incorrect.]
To Major Van Cortlandt [Pierre Van Cortlandt, Jr., was born in 1762 and died in 1848. He entered the office of Alexander Hamilton. He served in the affairs of New York State but did not become as famous as his father and brother. In 1801 he married Catherine Clinton, daughter of George Clinton. He lived at Peekskill in the family home. He was an officer in the militia after the Revolution. (Arthur Bruce Moss.)]
Grace mercy and peace attend you and the family. I have heard of the[The end of the page is torn off. ] cloud that came over your sky when the sun of your temporal prosperity, shone with bright beams. I had hoped from my information that not a bone had been broken:[ There is no explanation of the accident.] but since I came nearer it seems my information was not correct. I bless God your life was spared, if you go like Jacob halting, and praying all your days. Your call from necessity will be to more domestick life: may it be sanctified to your reconviction and saving conversion to God.
We are looking, we are longing for the salvation of God in the wealthy parts of our continent where the policy and prosperity of this would take up so great a place in the minds and pursuits of men. The God of Glory, far to the west hath caused the light of Zion to appear and arise and shine. I doubt not but thousands are annually converted to the Lord, and the poor, the slaves have the gospel preached to them.
My dear friend let me write from ---[ The second page is torn off at the top. ] love upon my part, danger -- --- I must urge the great concerns. ---- ---- I can do it in such a manner will know it: none will hear, but there is a witness to my fervent prayer for your spiritual and eternal interests. This is the way: I must repay the attention you have been pleased to repay to me.
I have had a year of labor of near 5000 miles and of attending seven conferences, besides the General Meeting rising in November, and very important in the organization. One hundred thousand, four hundred and seventy thousand souls, besides the many thousands that attend our ministry at seasons, it must be very great, with their connections and domesticks.
We live in a time of peace, and in general plenty, surely this is the time to gain religion, heaven and happiness. Oh ring free and remember your convictions, your promises, your anguish, your fear, when in danger of death. Now say it to heart, he is a man of prayer and you will be a man of grace, a man of God. What will not the Lord do for you, what may he not do with you, if you neglect so great a salvation. ---- ----[ The third page has the top torn off.] a good God may yet ---- ---- Simon's Calamity may ---- ---- you, if you will forget your --------- in the prayers of a mother, a sister and wife,[ Mrs. Cornelia Beekman lived with her brother at Peekskill.] a friend, the ministers of Jesus, the people of God: not only that your life might be spared but your soul:[ Pierre, Jr., became an Episcopalian and was a warden in the church at Peekskila for years. (Arthur Bruce Moss.) ] this is the grand object, let this affliction say to you as the voice of God. I have cut you off from the world in some degree that you might seek my face. I recollect a son of praying parents by a gun lost the sight of both eyes, he did not return to the Lord but his dear Wife was taken away, then he sought the Lord, if I may so speak: to give himself. Great work to bring you home. Oh that at last you may cry out, Lord I see thou wilt have my head and Thou shalt have my heart, and my all, as my God and my all. Please to present my Christian salutation to Sir[The salutations are to his father, mother, and wife.] and Madam, and your Lady, I am most sincerely, most affectionately yours,
F. Asbury
New York Public Library
Thomas Lyell, who is the subject of discussion in this letter, was pastor in Boston in 1802 and 1803. In 1803 Kibby was listed with Thomas Lyell at Boston. Lyell located in 1804 and later entered the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church. George Pickering was presiding elder of the Boston District. In 1804 Kibby is listed alone as the pastor in Boston.
BUXTON, N.H.
July 14, 1804
To Epaphras Kibby
My very dear Brother:
May grace and peace attend you now and ever. I wish to explain myself and intentions to you; I had no expectation nor desire that Brother Lyell should have returned to Boston last year; but he is a man of so much address that for many years hath obtained that indulgence from the episcopacy, and people, no other man hath had. I never was in the business of his coming to Boston fully; Brother Whatcoat began, and carried on the matter. I was surprised when Brother Lyell wrote me Brother Pickering thought he Lyell had better return to Boston. I doubted: and notwithstanding his age in the connection, (which I generally honor, by giving a charge to such). Was it to do again, he should have had his name after yours. I believe he influenced you to write; to me he has a most insinuating address. I am sorry you were treated so improperly, at present we can do no better, as I think, than to station you a second year, in Boston.
May God help you to be faithful. God is with us we hope, 20 souls have been brought out already. I am in haste you will see, as I am always in haste. My own love to the preachers,
F. Asbury
New England Methodist Historical Society, Boston School of Theology
This letter has to do with Asbury's horse Jane. Asbury loved his horses. jane and old Gray were among his favorites. He wrote most about Jane. In the letter to George .Roberts on August 12, 1801, Asbury says, "Last night Mr. Cough's famous saddle horse, 200 dollars price, laid and died by the long side of my very supple joynted Jane, had she died, should she die, the Mf of my personal estate is gone, real estate I have none.'1'1 Again in the letter of September 27, 1801, he says, "My mare's back is swelled up Iam obliged to ride down the high mountains, because I cannot walk, and Jfflie does not know how to crook her joints down these precipices.'" She must have been a low-country-reared horse. On July 26, 1802, near New York he records in his Journal, "I had to wait in a boat, tormented by heat mi flies; still worse for my poor brute, who made an attempt to leap out sito the bay; had she been loose, and myself at a distance, poor Jane mid probably have been overboard." Again he reports on Jane on June 2, IS04,"/ reached Radnor. Here my little Jane was horned by a cow, and lamed: she is done perhaps forever for me; but it may be all for the best." In this letter he wishes he had her to take along.
MANLEY'S, PENNSYLVANIA[Manley's was in or near Philadelphia. (See Journal, August 10, 1804.) ]
August 10, 1804
[To Whom] [There is no mention of the person with whom Jane was left. However, there is a name on the back of the letter which could be Radnor. Asbury refers to visiting a place, Radnor, at this time.]
My dear Brother:
May grace and peace (attend) you and the family. You will be pleased to deliver my mare Jane to Mr. Cooper. I have desired him to sell her at the price of fifty dollars. I am inclined to keep the mare I bought of Mr. Konagee.[ Evidently unknown.] You ought at least to have what is reasonable for the keep of her. This I have desired Mr. Cooper to settle with you. Had Jane been within my reach I might have taken her along, but I am just returned from a 1250 miles journey, to meet the New York and New England Conferences and I am now on a 900 or 1000 miles route to Kentucky Conference; therefore what is not ready, I must go without, I cannot settle my own little matters unless I am just at the moment. I am with Christian salutations to you and all friends.
F. Asbury
The Historical Society of the Philadelphia Conference and Old St. George's Methodist Church, Philadelphia
Here is another letter to Zachary Myles. Again Asbury is concerned wifi British affairs. He is concerned with incorrect reports of his activities durin, the period of the Revolution when he was in Delaware and confined to the state.
PERRY HALL, MARYLAND[Place not given. Probably Perry Hall, the Gough home. (See Journal, Aug 14-15,1804.)]
August 16, 1804
To Zachariah Myles[See note on Zachary Myles, letter May 5, 1804. Frequently called Zachariah.]
My dear Brother:
May grace and peace attend thee and thine. I present you our minuh for the present year; as you are pleased to accommodate me with British papers. God has done great, very great things for us this year; we are able to extend our ministry to the very utmost bounds of the empire of the United States; and the Canadian provinces. 9000 net increase, besides the filling up all the deficiency of deaths, expulsions, removals, by emigratiory from east to west. By our people going into remote, and solitary place where the settlements are very small; we may upon a consideration, oft! mortality of this year, I judge, have added not far if any short of 20,0(X
At our New England Conference held far east in the District of Main we had near 50 souls professed converting grace and many quickened and awakened. We are boring forward. Camp meetings in the State of Jersey and New York to commence next month, we hope hundreds will be converted at quarter meetings and thousands this year.
I have observed an error in Mr. Atmore's [Charles Atmore was author of Atmore's "Memorials." (See Journal and letter Atmore, June 3, 1803.)] performance of my co cealment in the State of Delaware, that was at Judge White's, whose s( is now Senator in Congress. It is a mistake. I had access to the house Governors Rodney, and Bassett, and Dr. Magaws. I went where I thought fit in every part of the state, frequently lodged in the houses of the reputable people of the world and we had a great work. I think near 18 were added in that state during my stay, about 20 months. I suppose I Coke received some misinformation as he was hasty, notwithstanding took no state oath first, or last, no man molested me.
I have taken the number of local preachers all but the Western Conference. I suppose this number and names will be about 2000 and 1000 exhorters. These will supply the travelling connection, not merely with boys but good and able experienced men. We have, you will see, near 400 travellers.[ Traveling preachers. ] I have sent two copies, one for your brother[William Myles. ] and another for yourself. I am late returned from a visit through Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and all the Eastern States; Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, the District of Maine, and Vermont. It has cost me the --- of 1350 miles from and back to Baltimore. I am now faring for about 800 miles to the Conference in Kentucky, as you will see next October; at Mount Gerezim. Kentucky, which was a few years a dangerous frontier, is the centre of the western front of our empire where we behold a second part of the new world. I am affectionately yours as formerly,
F. Asbury
Drew University Library
Asbury, though passing near Daniel Hitt, had not seen him and therefore writes again. He is greatly concerned with camp meetings. He tells about them and instructs Hitt as to how to conduct one.
SHEPHERD'S TOWN, VA.[ Now West Virginia.]
August 22, 1804
To Daniel Hitt[Daniel Hitt, presiding elder in the Alexandria District, Baltimore Conference. (See letter of January 21, 1804, to Hitt.)]
My very dear Hitt:
May the God of glory attend thee in the grand cause of Christ and souls! My route through the Genesee turns out to be through New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The New England Conference held in Buxton, district of Maine, four days and nights. We had between forty and fifty souls converted, a number awakened and quickened: it was great in the eastern blasted country. The preachers appeared greatly animated.
My Jane is wounded: I have changed my beast. I had to call for the Minutes, and had to wait for the revised form to be sent on by mail to Baltimore. I am greatly gladdened to hear that three camp-meetings are appointed: the first in the State of New York; the second in New Jersey, both in September; the third in Maryland, Pipe Creek, near the Chapel.[ Stone Chapel, the Strawbridge church. On August 5, 1804, Francis Asbury says in his Journal: "New York is the valley of dry bones. 0 Lord, I lament the deplorable state of religion in all our towns and cities."] I am alone, I have taken the most social way. My journey since General Conference has been about 1350 miles. I have passed and repassed all thf States north-east of Maryland. I have felt for the preachers in the east part of the work. I have told our preachers in Baltimore they ought to go out to the graveyard every Sabbath. 0! alas for the towns and cities, the are very dead. We must go upon extraordinary ways and means, and the ( Lord will work till thousands are brought to the Lord. I am so sleepy thine heavy weather, and I am so weary withal, I cannot write sense. Do write to me, to Charleston, a narrative of the work in your district. Daylight 1: going; I must conclude. I think never did a General Conference [See introduction to letter to Ezekiel Cooper, May -, 1804.
] sit longer with more ado, and do less; and perhaps the less the better.
I am, as ever thine,
F. Asbury
P.S. I judge you will find it best to have two stands. If the work should break out at one, you can go to another. I wish you to be singularlity careful of order: sixteen or twenty men as watchmen, to have their hour of watching. I would have them to bear long, white, peeled rods, that the; may be known by all the camp, and be honored. Let them be the most respectable elders among the laity. Keep the preachers, travelling and( local, listed; and call all upon duty. I believe, after we have established this credit of camp-meetings and animated the citizens, we must storm this devil's strongholds. I hope the people will be as independent as they cai at the Conference in Winchester.
F. A.
The Quarterly Review of the M.E. Church, South, XV (1861}, 158,159
M'Caine refers to this letter by saying that it was one of the letters in hi possession that had never seen the light. It is not clear to whom it wa, written. M'Caine used this letter to argue against Methodist episcopacy saying that it was as "anti-Christian" as the Church of England or this Church of Rome. It should be remembered that M'Caine was one of the men who were called Reformers and who started the Methodist Protestant Church. It is rather astonishing to read Asbury's opposition to collegian qualifications for the ministry.
August 30, 180[The date is not certain, but M'Caine puts it August 30, 1804, the day it was re ceived and labeled. (See M'Caine, Letters on the Organization and Early History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 153.)]
To Alexander M'Caine
The heat, my indisposition, and haste, make my writing worse thai bad. I have no correspondent in England. I should be afraid of committing myself. In compliance with my character, I answer all letters. I cannot say but Dr. Coke may use policy to attach the British connexion to him. Some have thought he only wished to get off from his engagements to the Americans, and never would visit the continent again. But I should not wonder if he should be upon the continent in less than a year. And I how not how soon death may put me out of his way. Some are bold to say, I am the only person in his way.
Perhaps the Doctor's letter transpiring may not be so unpleasing. The British must know he pledged himself in a most solemn manner[The word "manner," it is presumed, was intended to have been written; but it is not in the original.] to the Americans, this the Conferences remind him of, and tell him he has changed his ground. I have lately seen David Simpson's plea for religion. The greatest of all, it is England's warning. He proves that the Church of England is as anti-Christian as the Church of Rome. He has confirmed me in my opinion, and he says Reformation or Ruin.
I fear the Methodist connexion like ours will be more honorable than holy. Simpson,[ "Asbury says David Simpson proves that the church of England is as anti-Christian as the church of Rome. And is not Methodist episcopacy as anti-Christian as either Whatever arguments will prove the former will unquestionably establish the latter. Indeed, we think, all things considered, it is more anti-Christian, than either the church of England or the church of Rome-a point that shall be brought under review in the progress of these letters. 'Reform or Ruin' is the watchword for Methodists. Mr. Asbury gives a side blow at Dr. Coke and his 'collegiate qualifications,' and a tremendous thrust at these Methodist preachers who aspire after the honors of D.D. Away with such nonsense. Methodism was more prosperous before it was loaded with iach excrescences than it has been since." (M'Caine, Letters, 153.)] like a true reformer, renounced all relation to the church of England, and not, like the great Watson, take 2000 pounds or 3000 pounds for his work. All establishments, all collegiate qualifications for the ministry, must be done away. God is as able to make prophets and apostles out of fishermen, ploughmen, or carpenters, and tentmakers as he ever was.
F. Asbury
Alexander M'Caine, Letters on the Organization and Early History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1850, 152-53
Asbury still had not seen Daniel Hitt, the presiding elder, though he was passing through his district. In those days of poor communication it was difficult to get in touch with a person. Asbury is reporting on what he has found. He is thinking of appointing Hitt to preside at the next conference (see letter, November 10, 1804).
PHELP'S, NEAR WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA
November 7, 1804
To Daniel Hitt[Daniel Hitt, presiding elder of the Alexandria District. ]
My dear Daniel:
You will be surprised to hear of my passing this way. I have been sick upon Monongahela and Ohio about sixty days. I must needs preach at Union Town[Pennsylvania. ] and Jacob Murphy's,[ Jacob Murphy's was near Union Town. There the Methodists had preaching in Murphy's barn. ] ride twelve miles through the hot sun, and some rain. This brought on a chill and burning fever every day, with a most inveterate cough. I used emetics, two; the second cleared me. I was bled four times, and blistered four. I was part of my time at Harvey Stevens's,[ Stevens was upon the Monongahela. (See Journal, August 16, 1803.) ] and two weeks at Beck's.[ John Beck's, near Ohio River in West Virginia. (See Journal, October 21, l804.)] I had no intermission, but only a remission, for fifty days. I gave up my visit to the Eastern Conference. Brother Whatcoat[Bishop Whatcoat. ] came up with me, and stayed till two days of my recovery. I came off as soon as the Indian summer came on. I came from Beck's (from Sabbath to Sabbath) to Cresap's.[ Joseph Cresap's. (See Journal, November 3, 1804.)]
I am now on my way to Charleston. I must make the best of good weather. I have written to appoint a president. I believe it will come to that in time. I am in no doubt or fear but the connection will do as well or better without me as with me. The presiding elders have more local. knowledge: they have more personal information of the preachers and circuits. I only go because it is my appointment from the Conference, and to cast in my mite; and I cannot be idle.
I am happy to find the work of God is reviving to the westward. I shall be pleased to have a narrative of the work in this district. God certainly has a controversy with this land: many that will not be mended will be ended, or mended and ended both. America is the infant of Divine Providence. He must begin to correct, he will correct us Himself: he will not let others do it. I make no doubt there is not a single spot but will feel in time (and turn) the rod of God. The sinners in the cities are not sinners above all the Galileans. I anticipated the pleasure of seeing you; but time is short: I must improve every hour of fair weather and sun.
I am as ever, thine,
F. Asbury
The Quarterly Review of the M.E. Church, South, XV (1861), 159
As Asbury traveled to the south, he passed through the Alexandria District. On November 10 he records in the Journal that he wished to see Daniel Hitt. Since he did not see him, he writes this authorization for Hitt to preside over the Baltimore Conference on April 1, 1805. However, when the time came, Asbury opened the conference. (See Journal, April 1, 1805.)
NEW TOWN, VIRGINIA
November 10, 1804
To Daniel Hitt[Daniel Hitt, presiding elder of the Alexandria District, Baltimore Conference.]
As I am going to the South, about 1400 miles passing and repassing, and hope to attend the South Carolina and Virginia Conferences, I feel my weakness, and calculate upon the probability of a failure in attending the Baltimore Conference to be held in Winchester, April 1st, 1805. These are to appoint you, according to the power delegated to me by the late General Conference. You must preside in the Conference as I have done, and do all things with a single eye to the glory of God. Admit, examine, elect, and station the preachers; and God will be with and bless you. Given under my hand this 10th day of November, 1804.
Francis Asbury
P.S. Mark well! Should Bishop Whatcoat be present, his want of sight is such, he cannot preside, but he will be as counsellor, and may ordain. F. Asbury
The Quarterly Review of the M.E. Church, South, XV (1861), 159
Little is known about this letter. The facts in it are the only clues. No reference has been found to it, nor does it appear to have been printed. A list of the books printed up to 1794 and shown in Phoebus, Beams of Light on Early Methodism in America, indicates that the letter was later than 1194, as none of the books mentioned here is listed there. The agents appointed in 1804 are shown to be Ezekiel Cooper and John Wilson. A new edition of the Discipline was printed in 1804. The letter deals with the business of printing, and Asbury was criticizing the work.
[Autumn, 1804][ There is no date attached. The agents Cooper and Wilson were appointed in 1804, and the Book Concern was set up in New York in the latter part of the year. (Phoebus, Beams of Light on Early Methodism in America, 282.) ]
To Ezekiel Cooper[There is no person addressed on the letter, but it seems to be to Ezekiel Cooper. "The book business was carried on in Philadelphia under the management of Ezekiel Cooper until 1804, when it was moved by a vote of the General Conference to New York, where it was carried on under the control of the same gentleman, aided by Rev. John Wilson as assistant editor and general book steward.
"When the business was moved to New York, Mr. Cooper was allowed $600 a year and, although he was 'principal editor' and was receiving the above salary from the book room for his services, he took charge of the society in Brooklyn, Long Island, and insisted upon receiving from that society the disciplinary allowance of a travelling preacher. Such was the statement made to the writer by those who paid the money. Be it, however, as it may, his name stands on the Minutes of 1805 and 1806 as being stationed in Brooklyn. In 1808, Mr. Cooper's constitutional term of service expired, and the General Conference of that year, being so well pleased with the manner in which he managed the 'Concern,' voted him a bonus of $1000, so said the reports of the day." (M'Caine, Letters, 11.) ]
We got your address and have drawn upon you for 150 dollars as our dividend of the profits coming from the Book Concern. You will doubtless expect that we should address you as the agents to whom we have intrusted the management of our Book Concern and that we make such abbreviations and give you such directions as we think necessary.
Many mistakes were chargeable in your binders for misplacing the pages, have been discovered in the samples and the binding there is quite \ too slight.
The Life of Mrs. Hester Rogers,[ Mrs. Hester Ann Rogers was one of Wesley's women leaders, "one of the most saintly women of that first generation of Methodists." (Fitchett, Wesley and His Century, 496.)] we think it proofed too light on the: paper and the bindings are indifferent, although the papers and bindings of the Life of the Revd. Mr. P. Dickinson[The Rev. Mr. Peard Dickinson was an English Methodist preacher. He was Wesley's clerical helper and had been curate at Shoreham. There are several references in Wesley's Journal and Letters to him.] are better yet. We think it also a dear [] book.
We wish you immediately to circulate an edition of the discipline, leaving out the different tracts, the Articles of Religion, ordination, etc., ^ and to have it stitched in blue or some other colored paper.
We wish you also to print a volume of sermons written by Mr. Thos. Walsh.[ Thomas Walsh was a Methodist preacher. Asbury read the volume during his confinement in Delaware. (See Journal, July 17, 1779.) "Walsh became one of Wesley's most gifted and saintly preachers." (Wesley, Letters, III, 40.)] Joseph Everett[Joseph Everett was bom in Maryland June 17, 1732. He was appointed to the Lancaster Circuit in Virginia in 1785. He was one of the preachers at the Christmas Conference of 1784. Everett is called the father of Methodism in the northern neck of Virginia. He had been brought up in an Anglican home but was converted from a life of vice during the New Light revival. Everett was awakened by Asbury and became an outstanding preacher. He was responsible for much of the growth of the church on the eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia, where he served as presiding elder. He served on several districts as presiding elder from 1796 to 1803.] can procure a copy.
In your abilities and integrity to promote the interests of our book concern, we repose the utmost confidence and hope and believe you, will do everything in your power to procure the best materials and to have the work executed in the most correct and elegant manner. At the same time we depend on you to collect all our money of the debt due to the institution as you possibly can. You will please accept of our best wishes for your individual happiness in this and the world to come.
F.A.
Signed by order of the Conference W. P. C.[ William P. Chandler was secretary of the conference. The Philadelphia Conference had management of the Book Concern. A standing committee was appointed on it. After Dickins' death Ezekiel Cooper was chairMon. Thomas Ware, John McClaskey, Christopher Spry, William McLenahan, Richard Swain, Solomon Sharp, and Charles Cavender were the other members.]
The Historical Society of the Philadelphia Conference and Old St. George's Methodist Church, Philadelphia
Letters have come from Daniel Hitt which were replies to Asbury. Asbury is answering with further news of the work, north and south, as well as Kentucky. He sees many signs of revival.
NEW BERNE, N.C.[ Spelled Newbern now.]
January 26, 1805
To Daniel Hitt[Daniel Hitt, presiding elder of the Alexandria District, Baltimore Conference. He was a Virginian who began to travel in 1790. Hitt was one of Asbury's and McKendree's traveling companions and was for eight years the Book Agent in New York. He served as a presiding elder for eighteen years and remained unmarried. He died in Washington County, Maryland, in 1825. (See Stevens, History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, IV, 79.)]
My dear Daniel:
May the spirit of holy Daniel and a holy God fill thy soul. I received thy two letters at too late a period to be answered from Charleston. I found it proper to move as soon as Conference expired. God is good to me. I found, as I proceeded southward, my health increased. To my joy, I found brother Whatcoat had returned from the western states in good health, all things in good order, almost everything done my letter anticipated; but my letter not received till after the Conference; increase of eighteen preachers in the Kentucky Conference; two thousand members; South Conference, eleven preachers, few located; increase of members, fifteen hundred, notwithstanding the deaths and great removals to the west, whose membership must be suspended for a time.
We had great love and union, but little money. I believe the Conference in the south was near one thousand dollars insolvent. Our married men sweep us off in the circuits, and share a great part of the bounty of the hundred and sixty dollars, Charter Fund and Book Concern. Yet such ii the consequence of the work: we employ all we judge worthy. I calculate upon twenty thousand added to the societies, and twenty thousand dollars insolvency. We must not have gold and grace. God will give us souls for wages,
We overseers find this the very nick of time, in the winter season, to visit the seaports; these give us an opportunity of preaching to hundreds of the inhabitants of the sea. Our town stands are of great magnitude: by being present, I feel their importance, especially when we can get the Jews and Gentiles to work it right. I find it a matter of very great heartfelt concern to settle the frontiers of the sea, as well as the frontiers of the east, west, and north. We have the following towns which call for stationed, preachers: Augusta, Columbia, Camden, Georgetown-yes, oh that H could command Savannah also! In the North Carolina State, Fayetteville, Raleigh, Wilmington, New Berne, Washington, Edenton, Poor Halifax, then Portsmouth,[ Virginia.] Norfolk, Petersburg, Richmond, and some others; for when we can come at a square of two miles, and two thousand souls, it is an object that we shall not perhaps find in a circuit; besides comers and goers, as we generally say. We gain in this town, upon Trent [Trent River.] a dark place.
A poor local preacher labored and preached till he was called home: now God has visited his children and neighbors; one hundred souls have been brought in. The work grows in Georgia and the Carolinas. I can see a surprising difference everywhere since the year 1785. Oh, what prospects open in 1805! I am lengthy; I am loving; you are liberal in writing to me. You have my letter that was lost by this time. I have a letter from Joshua Taylor[Pastor at Portland, Maine. (Minutes, 1805.) ] informing me of the success of our Conference in the Maine-of a camp meeting and several happy seasons in the Maine. Glory! I thank you for the printed account. I have a written one from Billy Thacher.[ William Thacher, presiding elder in the New York District. (Minutes, 1805.)]
The famous Abner Wood is turned Baptist from stem to stern. He was going on till they suspended him preaching Baptist-like upon the New London Circuit: now our Discipline is a human invention: Jocelin[Augustus Jocelin or Jocelyn. (See Minutes, 1804.)] is rebaptized. See our great Conference men. We must have some drawbacks.
They judged the campmeeting near Suffolk, Virginia, was the greatest ever known. Four hundred professed in four days. Baltimore and the Point look up. The fire of God is broken out in the city of Brotherly Love Philadelphia; near one hundred souls converted. God's thoughts are not as ours, nor his ways as our ways. I received a long letter from brother Willis.[ Henry Willis, one of earliest preachers. He died in 1808.] I have only to add, he and myself have served the Church, the
one above forty years, local and traveling, the other between twenty and thirty. We must leave the government to younger men now.
You know my thoughts on the local eldership; they are yours. As to any valuable ends he contemplated, I can see none in his letter that might not be answered, as to their usefulness; but a judicious presiding elder might secure. The South Conference wrote a letter to the trustees of the Charter Fund, applauding gratitude for their attention. By brother Cooper[Ezekiel Cooper, pastor in New York. He had been Book Agent in Philadelphia. Asbury had to use pressure on him to move. (See letter above, May, 1804.) He continued to be Book Agent in New York. (See Minutes, 1804.)] a letter is sent that they are well under way in New York, and much work on hand. At least I am happily disappointed, he is gone to New York to stay. I am always pleased to be disappointed for the best. B. Jones, Gibson, N. Walters, and W. Lee,65 all, I have heard of the deaths. Now, brother, perfect love; live it, preach it. I have marked the kindling of a fire in the Latin and Greek Churches, so called, the French and Russians, the British at the bottom. I saw it some time, but it is likely to break out, it will probably involve the whole world. What can we say Let us make haste to promote the work of God. It shall be well with the righteous. I am thine.
F. Asbury
George G. Smith, Life and Labors of Francis Asbury, 226-28
This is a follow-up of Asbury's letter of July 14, 1804, to Kibby. Kibby has had a year in Boston as pastor by himself. Thomas Lyell, who had been the senior pastor there, had gone to the Episcopal Church. In 1805 Kibby was appointed pastor at Providence, .R.I. Asbury is reporting on the work.
PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA
February 16, 1805
To Epaphras Kibby
My dear Kibby:
May great grace and peace attend thee and thy charge. I was pleased to hear that matters were pleasing in Boston. Brother Atwood lodging in the same house put me in mind to write a line. God is good to me to thousands. I hope that there has been 500 extraordinary meetings where 12, 20, 30,40, 50, 100, 200 or more precious souls have been invited, converted, or restored, and sanctified at a meeting. You have heard from the Maine, I have heard from thence and almost every part of the Continent, I calculate 1805 to be the greatest year that ever was known in America or the world;, only let the preachers of a holy gospel, be holy, and Laborious. |
We see the fruit of our labors where we have gone on meeting, 3M years and 20 years enlarging, and building new houses. The children we have, after we have lost our other, some by death, and division, and backsliding; say the places are too short for us, make room that there may be places for us to come. Oh glory, glory we have added for the present year 29 preachers for probation in the Two Conferences, West and South Conferences and about three thousand five hundred members of society.
I have traveled in 6 months and a half, exclusive (of Sabbaths, and some little stay at towns) three thousand, three hundred miles, those have been fall, and winter months, very severe weather. But God is good, do all you can-my dear soul, my dear son, for God, he will help you, my time is short you will judge; but love constrains. Present me to all the faithful and prospering Brethren. You can write to me to Baltimore in April and if later, to Philadelphia and York. Everlasting love be with thee. I am as ever yours,
F. Asbury
New England Methodist Historical Society, Boston School of Theology
This is more of an introduction and recommendation of Ira Ellis than it is a letter. There is a long account of Ellis in the Journal. He is locating and intends to travel through the church. It is not clear as to what he was to do. He followed O'Kelly as presiding elder on the South District in Virginia and was there until 1805.
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, VA.
February 17, 1805
To the Ministers, Members, and Friends of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States
With our Christian salutations we send, greetings. Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied to you, through Jesus, our Lord. We have thought it proper to recommend our beloved brother, Ira Ellis,[ See account of Ira Ellis in Journal, February 17, 1805.] to your pulpits and attentions. One that has travelled fourteen years, extensively, faith-' fully, and acceptably, nine years he has labored locally, preserving always' a good ministerial and Christian Character; he hath filled the various stations among us, having exercised the offices of preacher, deacon, elder, and presiding elder. We give him the recommendation we think his standing and services have merited in our connexion; he is going upon business of consequence to himself; he may also be as attentive as circumstances will admit to the ministry of the word of God, at all times and places where he can have a congregation. Given under our hands this 22nd day of February
Francis Asbury
Richard Whatcoat
Asbury's Journal, 1852 ed., February 17, 1805
An invitation had been extended by the members and friends of Olive Branch Church for the next meeting of the Virginia Conference. After consideration Bishops Asbury and Whatcoat politely advise them that Norfolk has been chosen as the seat of the next conference.
EDMUND TAYLOR'S, N.C.[ The Virginia Conference was in session then at Edmund Taylor's in Granville County, North Carolina. At that time this was part of the Virginia Conference.]
March 5, 1805
To Members of Olive Branch Chapel, Virginia.[ There were four preaching places near the present site of Olive Branch Church at Gasburg, Woolsey's Barn, Dromgoole's, Mason's, and the old Olive Branch. Olive Branch and Woolsey's were used at the same time. (See Early's Journal.) However, Woolsey's and the others ceased to be preaching places; and Olive Branch, though it was moved, is said to be the descendant of the others.]
Very dear Brethren:
We feel ourselves under obligations to you together with our other brethren and friends at and in the neighborhood of Olive Branch Chapel for your particular respect for and attention to (our) The Virginia Conference. We accordingly received your petition and therein found your most sincere request that this conference should be appointed to sit next at Olive Branch.
We thought it our duty and interest to pay attention thereto and we undoubtedly were more attentive when we heard of the divine approbation of God to it in owning and blessing the labors of and making the Word exhibited there, spirit and life, so that many souls will praise God in time and in eternity. Great joy indeed to us, to you and to all Zion's lovers. Therefore brethren if conference is so great a blessing as to cause remembrance in time and eternity we should remember others when it goeth well with us. Therefore as conference has never been in Norfolk, though they have repeatedly petitioned for it, we have favoured them with the next which will commence on Friday the fourteenth of February, 1806. Dear brethren we most earnestly request that you would join with us in prayer to the great head of the church that He may make it spirit
and life to our Norfolk brethren and friends that hundreds and thousand of them may help us praise God in time and eternity--
We remain dear brethren, yours affectionate in the bonds of a pure gospel.
Francis Asbury
Alexander M'Caine Sec.
This letter was the property of Lucy Gray Kendall (deceased), associate editor of The Upper Room, a descendant of Edward Dromgoole. It is now in the Southern Methodist University,
The following letter has its own introduction.
EDMUND TAYLOR'S, N.C.[ The Virginia Conference had been in session at Edmund Taylor's. ]
March 8, 1805
An affectionate address from the Virginia Conference[This address was originally prepared for the South Carolina Conference, the! altered for the Virginia Conference, later altered for other conferences. It is interesting to see the differences in the address as it went down to the local church. The South Carolina original has not come to light.] of the Methodist Episcopal Church to all their official Brethren, local preachers, class leaders, and stewards, in their Quarterly Meeting Conferences in the Districts and Circuits of their charge.
Dearly beloved in the Lord:
Grace and peace attend you with our salutation to all saints. Possibly in your local situation you have not taken perfect knowledge of what God hath done for us a society, in the space of thirty-five years; we have not only planted, but have made a very gracious progress at the gospel in tH seventeen United States, and in the Territorial Settlements, as also into the two Canadian Provinces, as may be seen by the Annual Minutes. What hath God wrought We contemplate the happy hundreds already gone to Glory; and more than one hundred thousand now in fellowship with us, and the children and servants of our Brethren must still greatly augment our charge, to Christianize and spiritualize all these, we might calculate upon half a million of souls that stand in this relation to us. Again when we consider all those who regularly attend our ministry, a;
our own members, we might calculate upon one million, probably one sixth part of the inhabitants of these United States. Should we take the distance of land from St. Mary's in Georgia, to Passamaquoddy Bay [An inlet of the Bay of Fundy.] we might find it to be 16 or 1700 miles, and from the extremities of the_ Districts of Maine to the Natchez would be found upward of 2000 miles.
What, but a traveling ministry, and a very rapid one too, could have spread themselves, over such a part of so great and yet unexplored Continent westward in so short a time, opening and settling from 3 to 6 hundred miles and verging to a thousand miles in the width thereof. We have upwards of 400 traveling, and 2,000 local preachers, with exhorters, the latter a source from whence we can draw supplies to replenish and strengthen our traveling connections. 0 Brethren, help us by all and every laudable means in your power, what should not men do and suffer for souls, after the example of Christ, and in obedience to his word, our Local Brethren can keep our congregation together, by preaching in the absence of the traveling line.
They can promote class-meetings, order and union among the Societies. They can see that none enter in among the Flock, to pervert or draw away disciples after them. Our Local Brethren, highly esteem the traveling plan; some of them have spent their happiest and most useful days in the work; the Local Ministry, can help us greatly at Camp and Quarterly Meetings, they can promote prayer meetings, and when the work of God breaks out in a society can nurse the good cause. When the Traveling Ministry are obliged to go on to their daily appointments, they can be always ready, if disappointments are unavoidably made by the traveling Ministry, to fill their places. When modesty or self-diffidence prevails among the traveling ministry, to ask the people to contribute a mite, the Local Brethren can exhort and urge the Societies to liberality, to give for their support, that could have been full and free, and probably independent if they had been able to have tarried at home. But the word of God, was like a fire shut up in their bones; they were weary of forbearing and could not stay at home. Indeed it is not possible to calculate upon the good that has been done since the sitting of the General Conference in May, 1804, from what has fallen under the notice of this Conference. There has been perhaps 2 or 300 camp and extraordinary meetings, when souls have been convicted or converted from 10, to 15, 20, 30, 100, 200 and, in one extraordinary case 400. And who can conceive what may be done in twenty years to come. Oh! Brethren, was there ever such a time like this. Help, help by your prayers, preaching and purses. Many of our traveling Ministry are married men, and do not receive above $82 per annum to support a wife and children; and whenever we have a surplus in our conferences, we do not Bank it or give it where there are no just claims, but send it on to the poorer conferences in the more extreme parts of the North and East.
To conclude, such fields are opening, so many preachers to preach, and so many people to pray, and such multitudes to be converted, what shall we see in twenty years to come, if the traveling and Local Preachers are united, preaching the same Doctrine, approving and enforcing the same Discipline, and shall seek by every lawful means, Ministerial and Christian union among themselves, and among all Christian Ministers and Societies Thus living and walking as dear Children, what will not a good gracious God do for us
Francis Asbury
Signed in, and by order of Conference, 8th March, 1805.
Drew University Library
It is interesting to note that though Asbury had appointed Daniel Hitt\ preside over the Baltimore Conference in a letter of November 10, ISO' now that the time had come, Asbury was there. This letter has to do wi^ some property Philip Sunderman had left to the church.
WINCHESTER, VA.
April 1,1805
To Thomas Morrell[Pastor, Elizabethtown, New Jersey, in 1804. Moved in 1805.]
My very dear Brother:
Grace and peace attend thee. By a clause in Elder Ware's[Thomas Ware, presiding elder on the Jersey District. ] letter; a Philip Sunderman,[ Sunderman evidently lived at or near Woodbury, New Jersey. ] hath left the Episcopacy of our church his executors, of his estate, to be applied in charity schools. "To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not it is sin." These are to desire you my old trusty friend, to apply to the Clerks office in Woodbury, for a copy of the will. What we do is upon the wing of a minute, at that time, or place; or it may lay over for a year, or for time. If there is instruction how to apply that property, we will do the best we can, by the aid of seven councils, that is the seven conferences.
If this briefing can be acted upon, I shall require you, and another man of your choice to take from us the power of an attorney to act for us. Let this matter be in readiness by the 29th of May. Brother Whatcoat[Bishop Whatcoat.] shall if life and health permit see you with myself. I have no time for more information. It is now 6 o'clock, at 8 o'clock our important Baltimore Conference will be open. Mine and Brother Whatcoat's will and our love to you.
F. Asbury
Garrett Biblical Institute Libra
Asbury shows some concern because he had not heard from Coke. It had been the custom of Asbury to send an annual letter to Coke when he was in England, reporting on the work; and Asbury refers to that here.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
April 15, 1805
To Thomas Coke[Coke was in England.]
My very dear Brother:
Grace, great grace let it rest upon thee. I have been wanting to hear from you, but there has no letter as yet appeared. The winds, the waves, the wars, or something hath prevented. I have sent you an annual epistle that will give you a general view of four of the yearly conferences that have had their setting in great peace and good order. The menace of numbers so far, upwards of seven thousand, increase of preachers fifty, several returned to the work, that have been located.
It was thought I was going home last fall but I was returned again to serve and to suffer a little while.
I am as ever thine,
Francis Asbury
Emory University Library
There are several copies of this principal address extant. It was prepared
for the South Carolina Conference. However, it seems to have been used as a basis for the addresses from the Virginia and Philadelphia conferences, probably others. Part of this address is the same as that to the Virginia Conference, March 8, 1805. However, there are differences.
Address to Quarterly Conferences on Delaware District'[The original of this address was prepared for the South Carolina Conference and was then altered for other conferences. This evidently went to the Delaware District and to the charges from the Philadelphia Conference. A copy of it is still on the quarterly conference Minutes at Onancock, Virginia. (This copy was taken from the Onancock Minutes. The South Carolina original has not come to light.)]
CHESTERTOWN, MD. May 7, 1805
[To the Onancock, Virginia, Quarterly Conference]
Dearly beloved in the Lord:
Grace be unto you, and peace, and love be multiplied. It is scarcely possible for you, in your local situation, to have correct views of what our God hath done for us as a people in the space of thirty-five years. We think it a duty we owe to you to make the following statement. The Gospel, by our ministry, has made a glorious progress through the seventeen United States, the territorial settlements, and Canadian provinces, as may be seen by our Annual Minutes. Should we compute the distance from St. Mary's in Georgia, to Montreal, in Canada, it would be found to be seventeen or eighteen hundred miles; and from the extremities of the district of Maine to the Natchez, two thousand miles.
What but a traveling ministry, and a very rapid one too, could so extensively propagate the Gospel in the midst of so much opposition. There are now more than one hundred thousand souls in fellowship with us, and perhaps six times that number who look up to us for ministerial services, and to hear the word of life, which you know by happy experience to be the power of God unto salvation, as well as many thousands of happy souls whom we doubt not have already gone to glory. We have upward of four hundred traveling preachers, besides about two thousand local preachers and exhorters; a source from whence we can draw supplies to strengthen and replenish our traveling connection.
We unanimously express our high regard for our local brethren, many of whom have long traveled, labored, and suffered with us in the vineyard of the Lord, and others who would have traveled but for secular affairs. Dear brethren, we acknowledge your great usefulness. You cheerfully labor with us when we are present, preserve the union of the societies, keep up the congregations and prayer meetings when we are absent, and your influence can and does do much in raising class collections for our support. Our apparent increase (in the Philadelphia Conference) this year is small, owing in part to migrations to new settlements, and the uncommon sickness and mortality of last autumn. But when we bring into view the great wastage among twenty-eight thousand seven hundred and twelve, and the number necessary to repair that wastage, we shall see that the number received must have been very considerable to give us an addition of six hundred and twenty four.
Our finances for the present year are better than they were last, owing in part to the Albany district (where the deficiencies were usually great) being attached to the New York Conference, and yet many of the preachers were deficient more than twenty-three per cent., though they received nothing for their children. The circuits which have given liberally will please accept our thanks. We have received eight preachers upon trial, and discontinued-from their probation, and are exceedingly sorry to add
that some of their cases were truly humiliating and distressing; nevertheless the Lord hath in great mercy blessed us with unusual moderation and peace, through the whole of our critical decisions.
Dear brethren, we have labored and suffered with you and for you, and are willing and determined so to do. We have confidence that you will endeavor to walk worthy of your vocation, and unite with us in all laudable endeavors to promote the Redeemer's kingdom. Let us in love continue to watch over and pray for each other, keeping the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace until we are come to the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ, that may finally rest with him forever.
F. Asbury
Signed in and by order of the Conference William P. Chandler, Sect.[ Secretary of the Philadelphia Conference.]
Quarterly Conference Minutes, Onancock Methodist Church, Virginia
The Philadelphia Annual Conference was in session at Chester Town, Maryland. There is no reference in the Journal to this item of business. The Chartered Fund was still in its infancy and was just being incorporated. Directions are given in the letter to the conference as to procedure.
CHESTER TOWN, MARYLAND
May 7, 1805
To the Conference of Methodist trustees now sitting in Philadelphia
We viewed your communications including a statement of the products of the Chartered Fund for this year and do gratefully acknowledge your fidelity in the superintendence of the interest of the institutions. You will honor our draft for 120 dollars.
We are sorry you have not been able to collect the debts due to the institution, particularly Mr. Henry Ennell's word and the money arising from the sale of the plantation given to Mr. Dickinson and sold by your agent To Mr. Rogers.
We are informed that the above moneys are now ready to be paid and that they would have been paid some time past but Mr. Dickinson and Mr. Rogers[The names are not repeated in the original.] did not know who to pay the money to. As you are the only guardian of the chartered fund you are hereby directed and requested to collect and bring into operation the above moneys as soon as possible.
We have carefully considered your memorial and particularly your advice to print the articles of operation Of the chartered fund with the minutes but think it would not be prudent to present them because it might give an advantage to those who seek an auction to misrepresent us. We have nevertheless advised the presiding elder to procure the acts of incorporation and to state and explain them to the people.
Please accept our best wishes for your prosperity and happiness and the happiness of your families.
We are dear brethren. Yours in love.
F.A.
Signed by order of the Conference W. P. C. (Chandler) Secy.
The Historical Society of the Philadelphia Conference and Old St. George's Methodist Church, Philadelphia
At this time Asbury was disturbed greatly because of the possibility losing some of his preachers, notably George Roberts and Ralph Williston. All along some had been going to the Episcopal Church, such as Joseph Pilmoor, George Strebeck, Thomas Lyell, now Ralph Williston. This letter to Daniel Hitt and that of August 3 deal with the matter.
NEW YORK, N.Y.
May 22, 1805
To Daniel Hitt[Daniel Hitt was presiding elder on the Baltimore District in Baltimore.]
My dear Brother: .
With my usual salutation, grace and peace. Report says that two of our stationed preachers have been treating with a broken congregation, collected and then deserted by Mr. Strebeck,[ George Strebeck, who had left the church in 1793. He had first gone with the Lutherans to Pearl Street Church, New York. They built a larger church on Mott Street. This later became an Episcopal church. (See letter, July 28, 1805.)] first awakened, some by Methodists, then Germans, then Strebeckers, now Robertsonians[Refers to the possible defection of George Roberts, pastor in Baltimore. Roberts located in 1806. However, he went into medicine and remained a faithful local preacher.] or Willistonians.[ Ralph Williston went to the Episcopal Church. He is shown as withdrawn in 1806. He was pastor at Fredericktown, Maryland, in 1805.]
It is said the latter hath written to them, and is expected on in a few days. Now for this man to send a vague letter to me at Conference to take a station, and because it was not his wish, to begin to treat in Baltimore with a messenger sent by the Strebeckers to get them a preacher! And who is it to be Mr. Roberts or Mr. Williston. I am told the latter is expected in this city to see how it will work. Should he come, I hope that Brother George[The Rev. Enoch George, presiding elder of Alexandria District. Hitt was at the time presiding elder of the Baltimore District. They had exchanged districts. George later became a bishop.] and your self will supply his place immediately with Brother Jefferson,[ Hamilton Jefferson was on the Frederick Circuit (Maryland), Alexandria District.] and get some local brother to take the circuit; then let him find a place where he pleases. The secret of the matter was, our city preachers were invited to preach in that church, till they found they were made of such stubborn stuff they could not be seduced by them.
Report says they are deeply in debt, and Mr. Strebeck has drawn off all he can to be High Episcopalians. I think that you ought to talk seriously with George Roberts, to know what he means to do; that if he is about to resign his office, another may be put in his place-Brother Bloodgood.[ John Bloodgood, pastor of Baltimore Circuit.] If any change should take place, let me know by letter, in New York, by the third week in July, that the Minutes may be properly printed, who have withdrawn themselves, or the changes in the stations. You may tell Brothers Roberts and Williston you are ready to fill their places whenever they choose to resign.
I have had but one day in the city. I am going out this morning. I have visited a glorious camp-meeting upon Long Island; it was a blessed time. Many souls were blessed. We are looking forward for the coming of Christ in the North. If any thing special turns up, write; and how your camp-meeting came out at the Springs.[ Bath Springs, Berkeley County, West Virginia.] I am sorry we should have ministerial juggling. Mr. Gough[Henry Dorsey Gough, Asbury's old friend of Perry Hall, Maryland.] hired some British soldiers to work for him in the time of the war, he sounded them, if they would like to stay in America; they said perhaps they might in some future period, but they must go home and discharge their duty to their king and country, and their answer was "Honor, sir; you know, honor!" I wish these holy ministers of Jesus Christ would cry out, "Honor, honor!" and honestly and faithfully tell the Conference, "We will serve you no longer." We do not, we have not, trifled with them: why should they treat us in such a manner Henceforward we have need to call upon the absentees to let the Conference know by letter, saying, "We mean to take a station this year; any one you can give us"; if not, "We mean to take such or such a station, or none at all."
Our Philadelphia Conference, by an appeal that called their attention a day, sat seven; and we ought to sit ten days, if we cannot do our business without. What, to hear with some certainty, two of our elders should begin a treaty with other people, as soon as the Conference is over, to leave their station! I confess my confidence is greatly gone. Finally, I wish not to precipitate matters; but would any man of the world employ a man and be satisfied, if he found that same man treating with another, and to leave his former employment Brother George and you will be as one; take counsel; act with your usual moderation and prudence. I am, with respect, yours,
F. Asbury
The Quarterly Review of the M.E. Church, South, XV(1861), 313-14
A Letter of Thomas Coke to J. Walter Fountain
Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke were devoted to each other, yet thef^ did not see eye to eye. The temperaments of the two men are disclosed in\ some of their correspondence. Much speculation has been caused by their ' disagreements. The Coke correspondence is introduced here to clarify the situation. Two letters are put together to introduce the matter. Several letters follow, and the correspondence needs to be considered as a whole. Coke had recently married, and in the spring of 1805 he wrote what had been called his "circular" letter to America. Many copies were sent out. It seems that every member of the New York Conference received it. This letter was sent to the Rev. J. Walter Fountain of the Baltimore Conference.
A second letter which Coke wrote on January 10, 1806, follows the circular letter. However, there were evidently intervening letters. The references in the letter to Alexander M'Caine are to other letters than the circular letter, though the circular letter seems to have begun the discussions.
NEW CHAPEL, CITY ROAD LONDON, ENGLAND
June l, 1805
[To Revd. J. Walter Fountain] [Pastor of Talbot Circuit, Chesapeake District, Philadelphia Conference. This letter was the circular letter referred to several times in the letter and sent to members of the New York Conference and others.] .
Very dear Brother:
Before you have received this letter, you will probably have heard of the alteration which has taken place in my state of life by marriage. I therefore feel it my duty to write to you in the fullest and most ingenuous manner, in respect of my relation to you, and the Methodist connexion in the United States of America.
About ten years ago, when it was the unanimous judgment of the General Conference, that the Episcopacy needed to be strengthened, I proposed to reside with you for life; in consequence of which the most solemn engagements were entered into on both sides. The fulfilment of these engagements was delayed, with the consent of the Conference, by various circumstances then unforeseen; but I have never broken them in the smallest instance: and am now as willing to fulfil them as ever I was at any moment since I made them. My most beloved wife is also equally willing. She is indeed a twin soul to myself. Never, I think, was there a more perfect congeniality between two human beings, than between us.
But on the other hand, I should be the most ungrateful of husbands, if I trifled with her health, or feelings. It therefore does not appear at all probable that I shall make you another transitory visit. I cannot think of leaving my most dear wife for so long a time as a transitory visit would require; nor can I think of making her cross the Atlantic ocean twice for such a purpose. If we come to you at all, we come for life. But if we come for life, we come under the most express, permanent and unalterable conditions; except in the case of the death of Bishop Asbury, in which case I should consider it as my duty to sail for America, as soon as possible. But before I mention these conditions, I must make some observations respecting my venerable and highly esteemed friend Bishop Asbury.
As far as I know my own heart, I can most truly say, that I have not a wish in my soul to intrude in the least degree on the labors of Brother Asbury. As long as he can regularly visit the seven annual Conferences, you do not want me. But if he was so debilitated that he could not attend the seven Conferences, I should be willing to come over to you for life, on the express condition that the seven Conferences should be divided betwixt us, three and four, and four and three, each of us changing our division annually; and that this plan at all events should continue permanent and unalterable during both our lives. I trust that our gracious Lord will continue so to strengthen Brother Asbury, that the necessity or expedience of this plan may not happen. But if it does, the annual Conferences, or the general Conference, must be consulted on the business, and I have no doubt but they will determine with the utmost sincerity, and irrevocable integrity. I promise also on my part to abide most sacredly by my engagements, and to be yours entirely for life, if you judge it expedient, on the conditions before mentioned. Nothing in that case shall detain me in Europe for a moment after I have settled my affairs, but such anillness on my wife's or my own part, as will absolutely incapacitate her or me from going on ship-board: for I can by no means leave her behind me.
But there is no present appearance that we shall be detained on the above account. My wife is one of the best of women: she breathes the genuine spirit of a Christian pilgrim, and would go with me anywhere, yea, through fire and water, in the will of God. My health has not been so good as it is at present, I think, ever since I first visited America or even then, praised be God. The constitution of my beloved wife is a very delicate one; but with great care and attention it is my opinion that it is likely to bear the fatigues of travelling for many, many years. She has been indeed brought up in a most tender and delicate manner, and therefore needs conveniences through life, which others not brought up in the same tender way have no need of. But the Lord has blessed her, and me through her, with a sufficiency to supply both her and my wants, in every respect, without being burdensome to any society.
We were married on the 1st of last April, and in six weeks we travelled about 400 miles; and in a few days we are going on another tour of about 600, in which we shall cross the Irish Channel.
I must now observe that I do not intend, by any of the observations I have made, to derogate, in the smallest degree, from the worth and integrity of my old, venerable, and worthy friend, Bishop Whatcoat. I have, ever since I knew him, held him in very high esteem; but his age and infirmities render it impossible for him now to take even half the work entirely under his own care as a bishop. But I am truly thankful to find, by the accounts I have lately received from America, that he is able to meet Bishop Asbury at many of the Conferences. |
There is no remarkable revival in the British or Irish circuits at present, but there has been a gradual increase in Britain. Our missions, both at home and abroad, prosper very much. I have sent to Brother Cooper and Brother Wilson a printed account of their prosperity, which I lately drew up. I bless God that the Committee which the Conference has granted me to aid me in the management of the finances of the missions, to answer letters, etc. etc. have shown such attention to the business, and have afforded me such aid, that I am now assured that the missions may be carried on with spirit without me, notwithstanding the fears of my British brethren in conference concerning them.
Favor me with an answer to this letter, directed to me at the New Chapel, City-Road, London; and give me some account of the work of God in your district or circuit. Accounts of the great revival in America are exceedingly pleasing and profitable to our congregations in Great Britain and Ireland, and to the readers of our magazines. I wish you could see all my heart: if you did, you would find it as much as cordially attached to the American Methodists as ever it was in any part of my life.
I now leave the whole to the gracious disposal of our God; and recommend you, as I do daily, in humble and earnest prayer to his gracious protection. Remember me and my dear wife in your prayers; and believe me to be, what I most sincerely am,
Your very affectionate Brother,and faithful Friend,
T. Coke
The following letter to M'Caine, though out of place here, throws further light on the correspondence Coke had with the brethren in America.
TRURO, CORNWALL, ENG.
January 10 1806
To Alexander M'Caine[Not addressed, but evidently Coke sent the letter to M'Caine. M'Caine was secretary of the General Conference.]
My very dear Brother:
I wrote to you by the last packet, a letter for the Baltimore annual conference, in conference assembled, in answer to their official letter sent to me by you. If you have not received it, I'll request the favor of you to write to brothers Cooper and Wilson for a copy of the letter; which copy they now have, lodged in their hands, lest any of my letters to the annual conferences should be lost. Be pleased to add the following paragraphs,[ See M'Caine, Letters, pp. 154-55 for paragraphs.] enclosed in crochets, to the letter I sent to you, if you have received it. The copy which is in the hands of brothers Cooper and Wilson, has those paragraphs in it. I was obliged to cut short the letter I wrote to you by the last packet, in order to save the post, and thereby the packet itself, otherwise the same paragraphs, or at least the same ideas, would have been inserted in that letter. I beg you will be so kind as to write to me immediately after the breaking up of the Baltimore conference, as I wish to know more of the sentiments of the Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York conferences on the subject in hand, before the next British conference begins to sit, or at least, before it breaks up, which I think may be accomplished. Please to give my love to the preachers, and all the friends in Baltimore, and pray for your sincerely affectionate and faithful friend,
T. Coke
Alexander M'Caine, Letters, 154
Letter is the property a/Jacob S. Payton, Falls Church, Virginia
Coke had written Asbury of his marriage. Asbury's comments here and in the Journal make most interesting reading. Mrs. Coke was a lovely Christian woMon. Asbury shows concern for the publishing of important works.
LYNN, MASS.
July 15, 1805
To Stith Mead[Presiding elder, Richmond, Virginia, District. ]
My most dearly beloved Mead:
I am upon the wing, in the midst of the New England Conference where all is harmony and love. I haste to the Western Conference in a few days, the present Conference have voted Brother Crawford[Joseph Crawford. ] an active acceptable young man to go with me. Bishop Whatcoat is gone on probably 600 miles ahead of me. We have had several camp meetings in this and the bounds of the New York Conference. Last Sabbath Day, we had 70 preachers and 3000 people in a grove and we had convictions and conversions, the people seem very much alarmed, steady habits appear to be shaken and shaking.
I have sent on the reply of Edwards[Evidently Jonathan Edwards. Both Asbury and Wesley had been interested in his works. Wesley published one volume.] that if I was in your place I would print with a few alterations. Brother Cooper[Ezekiel Cooper.] was not at home. I cannot tell, if he has my sermon on the death of Mr. Jarratt,[ Devereux Jarratt, the Episcopal preacher of Virginia. William Glendinning published three volumes of Jarratt's sermons. A set is in the Rare Book Collection, Library of Congress. (See notes to letter of January 11, 1796.)] but I hear Mr. Dromgoole is about publishing the Life and Death ofJarratt. I shall bq less anxious to send mine out. I have 4 preachers in my room in conversation. After sitting 7 hours in conference you will see the gaps of my letter.,
I have received a letter from Brother Coke.[ Upon the receipt of the letter from Coke, Asbury wrote in his Journal, "Marriage is honorable in all-but to me it is a ceremony awful as death. Well may it be so, when I calculate we have lost the travelling labors of two hundred of the best men in America, or the world, by marriage and consequent location." (See Journal, July 9, 1805.)] He is married to a| Penelope, he says she is a Pilgrim. He says he shall come no more to; America as a visitor but if at all, to stay if his work can be pointed out and all be made safe and easy before he comes, but with all he says he shall, if he comes be no burden to the Connection, so I conclude she is a lady of fortune. I told Brother Whatcoat at the General Conference 1800 the Doctor I thought would marry. I have told him since I expect to hear bd was married; how could I divine all this. I
I think some times that these camp meetings will bring on great opposition and I should not wonder if some of us should lose our lives, but I am sure they will storm still and shake the formality of religion out of the world. I feel awful but God is the Lord that hath showed us light. Write me fully to Camden by the last of October. I am most affectionately thine Francis Asbury
P.S. You will be well pleased with Brother Sabin's[Elijah R. Sabin was a presiding elder in the New England Conference on the Vermont District. (See Minutes, 1805.) ] upon Discipline, I would advise you to reprint it with some local alterations. I have sent for that purpose that you make a good use of it. I think it excellent and well calculated for the meridian of Virginia as Vermont.
F. Asbury
P.S. Whether Mrs. Coke is old or young, a Methodist or Episcopalian we shall hear in due time. After being ----[ Letter defaced.] with help for twenty years ---- life alone, but I am not alone, I have 500 of my dear sons in the travelling and 2000 in the local line with a probable increase of near 720 every year. Only pray for me and the 7 conferences. I am kept alive b^ mercy as healthy and active as I could expect.
F. Asbury
Drew University Library
Though Ezekiel Cooper had been moved from Philadelphia, he was still Book Editor. Here Asbury is giving instructions for Cooper and Wilson in regard to publications. He is still disturbed because some brethren hadgons, out from among them.
To Ezekiel Cooper[Editor and general Book Steward. (See Minutes, 1804.) Also pastor in Brooklyn.]
My very dear Brother:
I have ridden rapidly two hundred and thirty miles in six days to redeem a day to write. I think that you might, with the assistance of Brother Wilson,[ John Wilson, assistant editor and general Book Steward. (See Minutes, 1804.) Also pastor in New York.] attend five conferences out of the seven every year. You could take Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Reasons for this, the critical state of the bills and banks; and that the preachers can be brought to a settlement better at conference than at any other time.
Brother Crawford[Joseph Crawford. ] is appointed to ride with me. If he can render you any service at the Western or Southern Conferences you will give orders.
I should be exceedingly glad to see Mr. Wesley's Sermons published up to the ninth and last volume this year. Then I should be pleased to see a complete set of his Journals published in America, and a set of his Appeals. It's time, after thirty-five years-it is time these were done.
I have had a thought of buying a light Jersey wagon, that I may go at the rate of the mail-stage, and visit all the towns and cities in the winter, and go to the westward in the fall; but the greatness of the expense is one difficulty, the badness of the roads another.
I give up Dr. Coke, according to his own letter, unless he should come for good. I have no unjustifiable partiality for men of any nation under heaven; I love all; they have nothing to gain or lose from me.
I have no more to do with the Book Concern than another preacher, nor so much as some of them. If I was to keep a little stage[Carriage.] the person in company, Brother Crawford, or some other, would carry a choice selection of the books of the connection.
When any one leaves our connection he leaves the conference, not me;I would not have it thought I am any thing in the business. I am pleased to feel that we are not taught to look upon it as a calamity when any one leaves us, only we grieve they should lose their first love, and give the world cause to say the Methodist preachers may be bought with money as well as others. For my part, I am glad they are gone. and so the judicious part, preachers and people, will say: let them go, and welcome. Had we not been shorn, we might have added near an hundred this year.
Perhaps it has been a trial to your mind that Conference made the additional provision for Brother Wilson.[ John Wilson, Assistant Book Agent. The conference evidently thought Wilson needed additional income.] They thought themselves justifiable; they did not think it right to require Brother Cooper to give up a part of his, yet they must know that to have a family in New York mus make a difference. But then it is not known how soon you may have one
Honor! Honor! Honorable men we are; but I conclude we have sunk in insolvency in the seven conferences, according to General Conference appropriation, about $15,000, if not $20,000; yet I never saw the Connection more united and cheerful, and determined to go on while libert) equality, and order prevails; and the work of God goeth on with increas ing rapidity in every conference, district, and circuit more or less.
I should be pleased with your company to Second River on Monday, a the new church near Newark. You can write me what you think the dividend will be; as the Western Conference and South Conference, aisc will go on for the next year, but will meet within this. You can write mi south, any commands you have for me as your organ, and the preside! of the conferences.
I am, as ever, thy friend,
F. Asbury
Garrett Biblical Institute Library
Thornton Fleming was a special friend and confidant of Asbury. It seen that Fleming was wanting to move, and Asbury is giving him advice.
NEW YORK[Asbury and Crawford, having passed through New Haven when there was yello fever, were barred by proclamation from entering New York. Therefore they stopped, George Suckley's nearby. (See Journal, July 28, 1800.)]
July 28, 1805
To Thornton Fleming[In 1805 Thornton Fleming had completed his first four-year term as presiding eldi on the Monongahela District, and in the appointments had been sent East to ride tl Annapolis Circuit. This letter is obviously in response to a letter from Fleming reques ing a retransfer to the West at the next annual conference, and possibly before conferenc if possible. In the appointments for 1806 we find Fleming beginning his second term! presiding elder of the Monongahela District. (See Minutes, 1805-6.)]
My very dear Brother:
May grace and peace attend you. All stations, all places have the difficulties. If Brother Hitt[In 1805 Daniel Hitt was presiding elder of the Baltimore District in which Annapo) Circuit was located.] can relieve you, I am content; if Ridgway[William Ridg(a)way had been admitted on trial in the Baltimore Conference: 1805 and assigned as the third preacher on the Harford Circuit. This circuit was undi Daniel Hitt in the Baltimore District. (See Minutes, 1805.) (Notes by W. G. Smeltzel] is unfit to labor on a circuit, for want of health, he perhaps might replac you. We have glorious times in the north; it is growing. New England is catching fire; field meetings prevail in number and power. The New England Conference has carried the palm of victory. God was gloriously present; such a time was never known in or about Boston, or any part of New England. I believe hundreds felt the power of God at the Conference in Lynn. Oh, my brother, I have hard toiling, to ride through the burning sun, like the mail stage, 230 miles in six days, to redeem a day to write or preach.
I wish that when any of my brethren write to me, that they would give me all the information they can of the work of God, it cheers my soul, and I can also communicate it to thousands.
I am, as ever, thine in Jesus,
Francis Asbury
P.S. I have but little time to read or write a letter. I do everything on the wing of time, ministers and moments fly with me. On reading your letter a second time, you express, if I understand it right, a desire to go west at the next Conference. You must think seriously, and pray God to give you light, if it is your duty to leave Annapolis sooner. I am not in haste to give changes. I should have many solicitations, if known, and all examples will be pleaded. I only say, I leave the matter with our beloved brother Daniel,[ Daniel Hitt. ] and yourself, and, above all, with the Lord.
F.A.
The Pittsburgh Conference Journal, March 1, 1834
There is no date or place attached to this letter. It was written after the New England Conference of July, 1805, which was held in Lynn, Massachusetts. The Journal records that Asbury took a day to write letters at Manley's, near Philadelphia, on the third of August. It was evidently here that the letter was written.
NEW YORK
July 28, 1805
To Daniel Hilt[Presiding elder on the Baltimore District.]
My dear Daniel:
May great grace attend thee. My letters were waiting in this city. I marked the contents, especially upon Redstone: it may be the case; but Stoneman [Jesse Stoneman was at Pittsburgh in 1805 as pastor.] we all know has his crooks; Budd[Thomas Budd had been on the Redstone Circuit, Pittsburgh District, in 1803 and was changed to the Berkeley Circuit in 1804 and to Clarksburg Circuit in 1805.] has his peculiarities. I am going to see and hear for myself, if God permit. If you can relieve Brother Fleming,[ Thomton Fleming was on the Monongahela (Pittsburgh) District in 1804. For some reason he had been absent. (See Journal, September 1, 1804.) At the conference of 1805 he was placed at Annapolis on the Baltimore District. (See letter to Thornton Fleming, July 28, 1805.)] he may return; but there can be no change till Conference. We must take care how we step back; if we step wrong, sometimes we may step upon a log, or into a pit. I shall not (indeed the Minutes are in the press, and partially done) make any alterations. I am happy to find that we have great union in the New York and New England Conferences, Letters addressed from these Conferences to the West and succeeding Conferences announce the same.
In Lynn [Asbury was at Lynn for conference from July 12 to 16. (See Journal.)] God was glorious; the work of God was begun in the Society; several souls were in distress; the preaching-house crowded at five o'clock; preaching in the morning. Necessity and choice drove us to a grove near the meeting-house; two, if not three, thousand souls upon Sabbath day; many souls convicted, some converted, and an awful power. I suppose we had twenty sermons, near one hundred exhortations, and multitudes of prayers in six days. Satan was obliged to go to Boston to bring men to oppose the work. Lynn was thunderstruck; meetings held till midnight, as in Baltimore.
O Glory! Superstition falls in New England. I look for great persecution; all hell is in motion. I think some of us shall be martyrs yet, we make such conquests in every direction. Perhaps it is best to let alone G. Roberts ;[ George Roberts was pastor in Baltimore under Daniel Hitt. He located in 1806 but practiced medicine and served as a local preacher.] but say to our Conferences, if they want to go, let them go: so says Francis! Let us have volunteers. I have a zealous, active young man to attend me, by consent of the New England Conference, (Joseph Crawford).[ Presiding elder of the Vermont District in 1804. Appointed to travel with Asbuiy. (See Minutes, 1804.)] The Northern preachers appear to be greatly in the work; their poverty is great, but they are not at all discouraged. Dearly beloved Ralph[Ralph Williston. At Frederick-Town, Maryland, in 1805. He is noted in the Minutes as withdrawn in 1806. He had become the pastor of "Strebeck's" Mott Street Episcopal Church.] is fixed in Strebeck's[George Strebeck joined the New York Conference in 1792 and was appointed to New York. In 1793 he was at Long Island. His name dropped out after that. J. B. Wakeley, Lost Chapters, Recovered from the Early History of American Methodism, 386-87, tells how he first became a Lutheran preacher, pastor of a little church in Pearl Street. Later another church was built on Mott Street. This became Episcopal, and Williston was pastor here. Strebeck died in Charleston or Savannah.] remains.
I am happy to find one spirit animates the whole, for seventeen hundred miles: the same hymns, prayers, and language salute my ears and heart. This I say, we ought to be wise as serpents in the management of our meetings. I find testing and preaching ought to give way to exhortation. We had all preaching and very little exhortation at the New York Conference : in Lynn exhortation prevailed, and the work went on. We ought to communicate all we can, one to another. Brother Dougharty [Presiding elder on the Camden District, South Carolina Conference.] writes they serve God all manner of ways, jerking, dancing, etc.; yet the work goes on. They say the fellowship revives among the Presbyterians in the Camden District. I shall be pleased to have a letter from you at Union Town.[ Pennsylvania. ] Be sure to be full in a letter to me, if I live, at Camden, South Carolina Conference, and you shall hear (if I am able) from the West.
I am, as ever, thine,
F. Asbury
The Quarterly Review of the M.E. Church, South, XV (Nashville, 1861), 629-30
A letter of William P. Chandler to Francis Asbury
For several years Asbury had been trying to get reports from the presiding
elders. He repeatedly criticized them because they did not write. Here is a good report from William P. Chandler. It is especially interesting because of its report on the camp meeting. It is said to be an extract.
DELAWARE DISTRICT, DOVER
August 5, 1805
To Francis Asbury
Rev. and dear Sir:
As it is a part of my duty, to give you an account of the state of the district, in which I preside; I rejoice, that it is in my power to state particulars, which will, no doubt, afford you satisfaction.
When the appointments were made at the Conference,[ Philadelphia Conference.] in May last, I felt an inexpressible solicitude of heart, that our labors might be crowned with success the present year. The confidence and fellowship, that subsisted among the preachers, during our last sitting in Conference; (which confidence and fellowship have augmented among the preachers on this district, since that time;) gave birth to a hope, that we should have such times this year, as we had not known before.
Saturday, May 18, our quarterly-meeting began at Barratt's chapel, for Dover circuit. A considerable congregation was assembled. At eleven o'clock, brother J. Aikens [James Aikens, pastor on the Accomack (Virginia) Circuit.] preached; and there was a general influence upon the people. After several exhortations, the meeting closed with evident marks of conviction upon the countenances of many. On Sunday morning, our Love-feast was accompanied with the presence and power of God. After the love-feast, seeing that our house, (notwithstanding it is so large,) would not hold half the people; we made arrangements to keep the public meeting in the woods. Brother R. Lyon[Richard Lyon, pastor on the Dover (Delaware) Circuit.] preached a profitable, sermon; several followed with exhortation; after which, I explained to thel people the arrangement and order of our expected camp-meeting, to be held, July 25, &c. At the close of our meeting, we had a gracious shower of divine grace; the people were much affected
Saturday, May 25, at Milford, brother C. Spry[Christopher Spry was presiding elder on that district from 1796-99. He located in, 1804. (See Minutes.] began our meeting at' eleven o'clock, and preached a useful sermon. Sunday 26, at our Lovefeast, the power of God was very present; and the people spoke with life and animation. By request, brother Spry preached again today; and the people were refreshed and encouraged.
Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2, our meeting began in Lewes.[ Evidently Lewes-town, Delaware. (Minutes, 1805.) ] At this place I preached to the people three times. Many of our brethren thought this a good quarterly-meeting, and the best Love-feast they ever attended. There is a work of God in the circuit: a few souls have been turned to God since the Conference, and believers seem to be much alive.
From Lewes, I proceeded to Snow-Hill,[ Maryland.] where the quarterly-meeting was held, for St. Martin's[Henry Boehm and James Ridgeway were on this circuit. (Minutes, 1805.)] circuit, the 8th and 9th of June. Here we were highly favoured indeed. Many were so filled with the love of God, that they could scarcely restrain themselves so far as to give their brethren an opportunity to tell what God had done for them. At the close of the public meeting, the power of God came upon the people; so that from fifteen to twenty, at one time, were on their knees, crying for mercy. And the hearts of the people all thro' the house were made so tender, that a few words spoken to almost any of them, would cause the tears to flow profusely. Three or four of the mourners professed to find a sense of the pardon of their sins; and evident marks of deep conviction were visible in the countenances of the greater part of the congregation.
June 15 and 16, we held our quarterly-meeting for Accomack circuit. Brother J. Seward preached at eleven o'clock on Saturday; and we had a good time. After our meeting was closed, the preachers, by invitation, went to the house of Major J. S. Kerr, about five miles from Accomack court-house. His lady has been, for some time, a member of our Society. We had not been long there, before the conversation turned upon the | subject of religion; and I cannot describe the satisfaction I felt when I found his mind prepared to receive the truth of the gospel. He resolved the
next morning, to make a public confession of Jesus Christ, by going to the Lord's-table. This resolution he kept; and God our Saviour met us there in mercy and power.
At our Love-feast which followed, several persons professed to receive the knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins. As the house was not sufficient to contain one half of the congregation, we were obliged to hold our meeting under the pines. There the mighty power of God came among the people. 0 the praying, weeping and trembling! Surely this meeting will not be forgotten. It is probable that there never was a meeting in Accomack circuit, at which the people were so generally and so sensibly affected by the presence of the Lord. I think the greater part of the congregation might have been detained until sun-set.
On the 22d and 23d of June, the quarterly-meeting was held at Johnson's[On the Eastern Shore of Virginia, near Franktown. It is a flourishing church. ] meeting-house. We had a good time on Saturday, while brother Seward was preaching. Our Love-feast on Sunday morning was a refreshing season to many souls; and two in particular were able to say, before they left the house, that Jesus has power on earth to forgive sins. I have no doubt but numbers were deeply wounded with a sense of their misery; while others praised God for the things they had felt and seen.
Saturday and Sunday, June 29 and 30, our quarterly-meeting for Annemessick circuit, was held at Salisbury.[ Maryland. ] At this place we had a blessed time. A few souls have been powerfully affected in this village within a few days; but I did not learn, that more than one or two got a sense of pardoning love at the quarterly-meeting.
There is a blessed work of God on this circuit. The preachers have taken into society many since Conference; a goodly number of whom are persons of much respectability.
July 6 and 7, a quarterly-meeting for Somerset-circuit, was held at Laurel.[ Ibid. ] We had an encouraging time from the beginning to the end of our meeting.
July 13 and 14, we held our quarterly-meeting for Dorchester[Ibid. ] circuit, at Church-creek. Here there is a rapid work. The preachers are engaged in labor almost night and day. They have taken into society more than six hundred members since Conference; and the work is said to be increasing. 0 my God, ride on and people the earth with subjects of thy grace!
Caroline[Ibid.] quarterly-meeting was held at the new meeting-house, near Collins' Cross-Roads, July 20 and 21. Because of the numbers that were assembled, we kept our meeting under the trees; and the Lord was with us. In the evening two souls professed to find the Lord, in the pardon of their sins. We had a comfortable time, both in the Love-feast and at the public preaching on the Sabbath; but we were obliged to hold our meetings in the woods. There are proofs of a blessed revival of religion on this circuit. A number have been brought to God lately, and believers are much stirred up
July 24, the day previous to the beginning of our campmeeting, I was' with our brethren, on the camp-ground, making arrangements. Several preachers, with about fifty people, encamped upon the ground that night. 3 We thought it prudent to keep a little guard stationed, for the security oft the people and the camp; but we were not disturbed. Thursday, July 25, at sun-rise, the trumpets gave the signal for morning prayer; after which the people began to assemble from different quarters. At eight o'clock, the trumpets sounded the signal for public preaching: when the rules of the meeting were read.
Brother J. Lee [Jesse Lee.] took the stand, and preached from Isaiah xxxiii, 13. Brother J. Chalmers exhorted after him. The work broke out, and went on until the trumpets blew for preaching at three o'clock; but every thing was as orderly thro' the camp as in a Court of Justice. At three o'clock, brother John Chalmers, from Baltimore, preached, and old brother Newcommer, a Dutchman, exhorted. It was good to be there. The congregation consisted at this time, of about 3000 souls. The work continued, and the people sung and prayed until the trumpets blew the signal for preaching at eight o'clock, when brother J. Totten[Pastor on the Gloucester, New Jersey, Circuit.] preached from the third chapter of Habakkuk, and second verse. The awful power of Jehovah was displayed among the people. There were at this time upon the ground 28 traveling preachers, 26 local preachers, 12 exhorters, and about 3000 people; 123 tents, wagons, &c. in which the people were to sleep.
Friday 26, it was supposed, upon calculation that upwards of forty persons were brought to God the last twenty-four hours. This morning at sun-rise there were 189 tents, covered waggons, and carts, that were encamped on the ground; some of these tents contained 20 to 30 persons. The trumpets sounded the signal for public preaching at eight o'clock, and when the people were collected together, the number was judged to be about 5000 persons. Brother Thomas Ware[Presiding elder on the Jersey District.] preached from 1 John iv, 5. Exhortations were given by brothers Bishop,[ Pastor with Totten on the Gloucester Circuit.] Totten, and Chalmers. At this period, people of all descriptions, from the grey-headed down to little children, were crying for mercy.
After the signal for three o'clock preaching was blown, brother J. Chalmers preached from John xiv, 12. The work of conviction increased considerably. At eight o'clock in the evening, brother James Aikens preached from Matthew xi, 28, 29; and the power that prevailed in the camp, bespoke its great Original.
There was no intermission in the cries of mourners, the singing of the joyful, the praying with the distressed, except in the time of public preaching; and the calculation was, that from 60 to 70 souls, were brought to experience the love of God in the last 24 hours.
Saturday 27, at sun-rise, the trumpet gave the signal for morning prayer. There were upon the ground 189 tents, covered carts, and waggons; 32 travelling preachers, 37 local preachers, 15 exhorters, and 24 leaders, with about 1,000 carriages, and from 7 to 8,000 people. When the trumpets gave the signal for public preaching at 8 o'clock, Brother J. Lee preached from John xvi, 20. Brother Sneath[Richard Sneath, pastor on the Cecil Circuit, Chesapeake District. ] exhorted. Many persons professed to experience an increase of grace last night and this morning.
At three o'clock, brother R. Lyon preached, and brother J. Chalmers exhorted. The work of God appeared to increase. At 8 o'clock in the evening brother W. Bishop[William Bishop was a junior preacher on the Gloucester Circuit in the Jersey District.] preached. At this time there was an awful power of God among the people; and many were in great distress of soul.
It was judged by some that in the course of the last 24 hours, from 150 to 200 persons, tasted that the Lord is gracious. At twelve o'clock, brother J. Chalmers drew off a part of the congregation, (which at that time consisted of 9 or 10,000 people,) and preached to them a sermon against Deism. At three o'clock the signal was given. Brother E. Chambers[Ephraim Chambers was pastor on the Kent Circuit, Chesapeake District. ] preached from 1 Pet. iv, 16. The provisions failing, and the people being at a distance from home, a number left the ground after preaching. At five o'clock the Sacrament was administered, and great grace followed.
At 8 o'clock, after the usual ceremony, brother Sneath preached from part of the 10th verse of the 25th of Matthew, and the work of conviction and conversion continued without intermission thro' the night.
Monday 29, after the usual signal, we had a moving time at morning prayer. At seven o'clock we prepared for our Christian parting. It was ushered in by two of the preachers walking around the camp, blowing the trumpets; after this, the preachers all assembled on the preaching stand, with the congregation before them. Brother J. Lee spoke a little upon the occasion. The preachers then fell upon each other's necks and wept. After which, we took leave of the people, expecting to see many of them no more, until we meet in our Father's house above. The place was truly a Bochim.[ Means the weepers in Hebrew. (See Judges 2:1-5.)] O my God, if such love can exist among mortals, what will be our joy if we meet around thy Throne.
I am, dear Sir, your obedient Son in the Gospel, &c.
William P. Chandler
The Methodist Magazine, XXIX, 188
Thomas Sargent was one of the pastors in Baltimore, and Asbury had had some news ofSargent''s father. It seems that Asbury was prompted to mite because of the news. He makes an extended report of the state of the church,
CAMDEN, S.C.
December 28, 1805
To Thomas Sargent[Thomas Sargent was pastor with George Roberts at Light Street, Baltimore.]
My dear Son:
May great Grace attend thee and thine. I heard of your father, and notwithstanding we traveled in the Ohio about 400 miles, we could see the dear old saint. I am told he is very zealous in religion. The magnitude of the Western Conference will call our attention, the oversight of 12 or 1500 miles and northwest, we cannot say what will be explored. 13,000 members, 5 traveling, 150 local preachers, half a million of hearers. We have sent out 7 missionaries, 5 to Mississippi, 1 to New Orleans, 1 to Illinois. We shall have to gather up possibly many thousand lost sheep of the house of America, besides the lost sheep of the house of Africa, and possibly the house of France, Spain, and Britain. We have 5 grand districts, Holston, Kentucky, Ohio, Cumberland, Mississippi. We have had very great harmony in our church whilst the new and old lights. Baptists and Presbyterians have been unhappy; and I fear heretical and schismatically jaws; and to crown all the Shaking Quakers are come to divide the spoil; and report affirms that two New Light Presbyterian Ministers with their scattered flocks have joined those wandering stars; Add to all this, Mr. ---- men bring up the rear.
I am happy to believe that the western world will afford a very great half of the new World. Many thousands emigrating from all parts of the East, to the West. We are resolved to begin and progress with other societies. I console myself with an increase of about 20,000 souls Joyned to the Church annually. Numbers are lost in the returns, and many by moving, and expulsion, and death. My returns since July from the presiding elders, and elders, have been partial, but I have a list before me of 2595 that have professed converting Grace. Every district of the 32 promises great success.
My dear Brother, I am thankful that you have made some exertions for preaching abroad. It shall not altogether be in vain. Oh let us preach and live; and live and preach. We have great hope of good at our conferences, in the seat of the New York Conference, it came afterward, in Lynn it came at the time. We have great confidence in love, want prayer, that the conferences have pledged to each other. We feel as if all the preachers and people upon the continent of the Methodist order are praying for us, when we are sitting, upon the charge of souls. Brother Roberts has suggested the African Church, as a proper seat for the Conference in Baltimore. I have thought the same. I have thought if in the long evenings, half a dozen brethren, that have a gift at congregational prayer were to spend half an hour in prayer every week night preaching, singing happily intermixed, a short Hymn, and then pray. Again if one or two should feel light, and like, to drop a few words of exhortation, in any part of the house not two at a time. We have found that the greatest degree of good, and strict discipline, is consistent with; and highly conducive to a work of God.
My continual cry to the Presiding Elders is, order, order, good order. All things must be arranged temporally and spiritually like a well disciplined army. I calculate that the year 1806 will be one of the most awful years that was ever known in Europe or America for war and commotion, and I believe there will be thousands slain by the sword of desperate war. I trust thousands will be conquered by the sword of the Spirit in the new World. Present me to all you please Sister Sargent not forgotten. I am yours
F. Asbury
P.S. Dear Father Otterbein, I have felt prior to information as if his time was short, one of the best men upon Earth.
Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference (Lovely Lane Museum}
A Letter of Thomas Coke to the New York Conference
Thomas Coke wrote several letters to the brethren in America. This letter followed the circular letter of June 1, 1805, in which he offered his services to America. Coke is again presenting to the brethren his case for coming to America.
Without question Coke had a side to his case. Duren in his Francis Asbury has probably put the whole matter as well as anyone: "It is needless to say that Asbury's course cannot be defended on other than practical grounds. Bishop Coke was a bishop and equal in technical authority with Asbury. . . . He was on solid ground in the complaint which he registered against Asbury and the American Conference; as a bishop he did not receive the consideration to which he was entitled. But Asbury's course was determined here, as in everything else, by practical rather than ecclesiastical and technical considerations. Dr. Coke lacked adaptation for the American episcopacy, and Asbury had no intention of allowing a disturbing factor to impede the progress of the cause of Christ and the Methodist Church. He was out for an end which was not to be defeated by conventional consideration.[ William Larkin Duren, Francis Asbury (The Macmillan Co.), 224-25. Used by permission.]
Coke wrote another letter on January 6, 1807, which is almost like this, to the Philadelphia Conference. This is extant in the Philadelphia Historical Society at St. George's Church. He had also written a similar letter to the Baltimore Conference before writing to the Philadelphia Conference, but this letter has not come to light.
FALMOUTH
COUNTY OF CORNWALL,
ENGLAND
January 6, 1806
My very dear Brethren:
I have received your official Letter, and sit down to vindicate myself, as I value your esteem very much. But it will be almost impossible for me to do so to your full satisfaction, unless you give me credit concerning my motives-concerning the movements of my heart, as far as I am acquainted with them, and the views and intentions of my mind.
I then in the first place, declare to you, that I have a strong and unfeigned love towards you all, and that the interests of the cause of God among us in the United States of America, cleave very closely to my heart, and are a subject of my daily prayers.
In the second place, I highly venerate Bishop Asbury, and consider him as a Second Father instrumentally of the work among us in the United States. (Excuse me for using the word us, for I still consider myself as one of you.) I must therefore beg (and I claim it from your candor) that nothing I shall say in my own defence, may be considered as in the least degree as disrespectful to him; as I consider him as acting according to the will of the General Conference in every thing which relates to me, as well as in all his Episcopal labors. I now proceed to my vindication.
About ten or eleven years ago, the General Conference voted that the Episcopacy needed to be strengthened. The debate was remarkably solemn and affecting; and I was moved by my ardent love of the work, to offer myself to you as a Coadjutor with Bishop Asbury, for the strengthening of the Episcopacy. Many were the prayers put up, and many and solemn were the reciprocal engagements entered into at that time.
Either that day or the next, Bishop Asbury proposed to me a plan of operations-I was to visit Albany, Vermont, and the whole of the New England States, as far as our work then extended in those parts, taking Philadelphia, New York, and, if I pleased, the Peninsula, in my way, and to meet Bishop Asbury in the Spring in some part of New England. I was astonished. I did not see in this plan anything which related in the least degree to my being a Coadjutor in the Episcopacy, or serving to strengthen it; though it was for that purpose, as the primary point, that it was thought eligible by the General Conference that I should reside for life in America. Bishop Asbury was to hold the three Southern Conferences entirely by himself; and I was to spend my whole time merely as a Preacher; and on a plan, upon which I should spend the chief part of my time in preaching to very few. The Northern States would be covered with snow. I should have Mountains of snow to ride over, only preach in general (a few Towns excepted) to the Family where I was, and a few of their neighbours. When Bishop Asbury retired, I fell on my face before God, and said, "0 my God, what have I done" Some of the Presiding Elders came to me afterwards to form my Plan, and I was still more convinced, that, according to the whole plan, I was to be nothing but a mere Preacher. However, I was solemnly engaged; and though you had not yet in any degree complied with your part of the engagement, I was determined to move on, even in that small sphere of usefulness. But a short time before the General Conference broke up, came the Minutes of the British Conference, appointing me to preside in Ireland the ensuing year. This was done after I sailed for America. I had promised the Irish Conference, when I was at that Conference, that if I was so appointed, I would be with them, God willing. This point I laid immediately before the General Conference, and they unanimously judged that I ought to fulfill my engagement with the Irish Brethren. I then proposed to Bishop Asbury to accompany him to the three Southern Conferences, and to sail for Ireland from Charleston. We accordingly went together; but to my astonishment I was not consulted in the least degree imaginable concerning the station of a single Preacher. I did not expect or wish to be any thing more than a Chamber-Council, the ultimate decision in every thing still to remain with Bishop Asbury. In short, I neither said nor did any thing during the whole tour, which had any usefulness attending it, as far as I can judge, but preach.
When I went to Europe, I fulfilled my engagements in Ireland, and took a solemn leave of every Society in my tour, and of the Irish Preachers in their Conference. The British Conference being held in about a fortnight afterwards, I went to that Conference to take my final leave of the British Brethren. Four times they brought my case before them, before they could prevail on me to take over an address from them for my return to Europe till the next General American Conference. But I informed them of the solemnity of my engagements in the fullest manner. I then returned to the States: but the length of the voyage, my capture by the French, &c. put it out of my power to visit more than two of the Conferences. Indeed, I visited but one-the Virginia Conference. Bishop Asbury and the Members of that Conference were unanimously of opinion, that I might return to Europe till the General Conference and that the General Conference, in the circumstances in which I was placed, would not disapprove of my conduct. Still to my astonishment I was not consulted in the least degree whatever concerning the station of a single Preacher, & had nothing I know of peculiarly useful to do, but to preach. But what astonished me, I think I may say, almost above expression, was the following mysterious circumstance-Bishop Asbury was at that time so weak in body, that he could not reach Charleston in time to attend the Southern Conference, & therefore did not go. I offered my service, as it would have been equally the same for me to have sailed from Charleston as from New York. But he refused me, & appointed Brother Jackson to station the Preachers, & Brother Jesse Lee to sit as Moderator in the Conference. I knew not how to account for this in any manner consistently with your most solemn engagements at the General Conference.
The next General Conference came. I confess to you, my dear respected Brethren, I was afraid, considering all the circumstances already mentioned, that if you kept me with you, you would render me comparatively useless. I therefore previously accepted of the address of the British Conference concerning me, but was determined to submit to the vote of the General Conference. When I came, the General Conference after two days' consideration allowed me to return, principally on account of the Irish Mission. But I was surprised-I was astonished that you entered into no explanation concerning our reciprocal engagements: for during my whole stay at this time, I was not even consulted in the least degree on any thing belonging to the Episcopacy. I did indeed lay hands on a few who were | ordained, & that was every thing.
When I last returned to America, I did expect from Bishop Asbury's letters, as well as from letters written by several of the Preachers, that you really had entered into my case, & did intend to employ me in some manner as a Bishop, so that I should have the opportunity of giving my judgment freely on all Episcopal matters. Under this impression I settled all my little affairs in England, & took with me nineteen chests, boxes, & trunks, containing all my papers, most important books, &c. (besides the copies of my Commentary which were packed in other cases) leaving only behind me that part of my Library which I should not immediately want, & which might be sent after me on my order; & also those copies of my Commentary which I was in hopes my British & Irish Brethren would sell for me. I had at the British Conference which was held just previous to my sailing, various severe struggles in my mind, whether I should take my solemn final farewell of my European Brethren or not. I did repeatedly give them strong reason to doubt whether they should ever see me again, & was faithful in repeating to them the solemn engagements I was under to you. But I accepted of their address as far as it concerned me merely from the uncertainty which still remained, whether you intended to employ me in America in any other way in reality than as a mere Preacher: and
on no other ground could I have accepted of the address as an honest Man, though I greatly love & respect my European Brethren. However, when I arrived at Petersburgh in Virginia, I made up my mind to stay with you, & had formed a Plan of visiting the North, & returning time enough of course to be at the General Conference. But, when I was at Brother Ellis's near Richmond, a thought struck me with amazing power, "You should go to Georgia, to meet Bishop Asbury at the Georgia Conference." The impression made on my mind by this thought, completely robbed me of a night's rest. In two days I set off for Georgia. But how amazed I was to find, that every thing was in the same situation-that so far from my having any opportunity of strengthening the Episcopacy, according to your solemn engagements at the General Conference, when you accepted me as one of your Bishops, I was not to be consulted on the station of a single Preacher: nay, when I asked for a copy of the Stations of the Preachers at the close of the Georgia Conference, which was granted to every Traveling Preacher present, I was refused. I then saw the will of God concerning me-that I ought not to labor in America, unless the General Conference would consent to comply in some degree with its engagements. I did not want to station the Preachers as Bishop Asbury does. Nothing should be done to grieve that venerable Man: but I approve of the stationing the Preachers by a Committee at each Annual Conference with the Bishops at the head of it. But every Bishop ought to have a right of giving his judgment on every point, or he is but the shadow of a Bishop.
When Bishop Asbury & I arrived at Columbia, I opened my whole mind to him. I laid before him my situation in Europe-that I had there the superintendency of all the Missions-of the Missionaries in Ireland, Wales, the West Indies, Novia Scotia & New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. I have a Committee to assist me in the management of those Missions, for which I bless God. Every year I preside at the Irish Conference, & the Preachers are stationed by myself and a Committee of nine who are the Representatives of the Districts; only the Plan is afterwards brought before the Conference for their approbation. In England, I am always either the Secretary or President of the meeting of Representatives of Districts, who station the Preachers, and my judgment has considerable regard paid to it; as also in the Conference, when the Plan is brought before them for their consideration: and in all these instances the Lord is pleased to render me useful. In Europe, I have incomparably more time for Literary matters than I could have in the United States. In respect to Preaching, I can preach in the year to three or four times the number of People I could preach to in the United States in the same time, from the compactness of the Circuits, and the crowded state of the Inhabitants. Now for me, I urged, to spend my life in America for nothing but merely to preach, would be to sacrifice so much of my usefulness, that it could not be agreeable to the will of God. Bishop Asbury acknowledged the force of my arguments; & requested me to visit New England before the General Conference, which I accordingly did, though, I candidly confess, with much secret reluctance of mind; as I should lose the opportunity of seeing my Brethren at the Virginia and Alexandria Conferences, which, as I had come to the South, I sincerely desired to do; & should also be obliged to travel very much indeed in the Mail-Coaches with very disagreeable company in order to accomplish the Plan, & thereby preach much seldomer than otherwise I should have done: but I complied without making the least objection. Perhaps, dear respected Brethren, you will now ask me, "Why did you offer yourself to us" I answer, "It was your unanimous vote at the General Conference, that the Episcopacy needed to be strengthened." I had been consecrated by our venerable Father in the Gospel, the late Mr. Wesley, a Bishop particularly for America. I had been the means of establishing your present form of Church-Government, which in a general view, (tho' it will admit of improvements,) I prefer to any other, I consider your union as of infinite importance to the continuation of the present revival. Your continent includes about a third part of the Land of the World. When fully cultivated & peopled, it will contain & support, perhaps, a thousand millions of Inhabitants, most of whom, I expect, will speak the English language. To preserve, therefore, your union that the work of God may progress with the progress of population, & at last leaven the whole Continent, lies very near my heart. I know that I am perfectly unworthy of the honour of merely preaching in all your Pulpits;
but it is my duty to meet the calls of God, however unworthy I may be. If you consider my living & laboring among you, will help to preserve this union, I shall think it the highest honour & happiness of my life so to do.
My precious Wife can travel under the Divine blessing five thousand miles a year, and I can travel ten thousand. But considering the circumstances before mentioned, it is my duty to have some explanation from you, before I come. I cannot come to you as a mere Preacher. As to my Circular Letter I recall it entirely, acknowledging that I laid down conditions which were not included in our reciprocal engagements. But I did not see things when I wrote it, as I do now. I hardly knew what to write, circumstanced as I was in respect to you: and you surely, my respected Brethren, must be conscious that an explanation of some kind is really necessary. Am I to come to you in any sense as a Bishop, & in what sense I don't wish to act, if I come, but in perfect subordination to the General Conference, but yet still as a Bishop, & having a right to give my judgment in all Episcopal matters, unless I render myself unworthy of the Office. Do write to me, my dear Brethren, as soon as you have received this Letter. Send me Duplicates; one by the British Packet from New York, paying the postage to New York; otherwise it will not be sent off; and another by the first merchant ship; in which case, I believe I shall hear from you before the next British Conference sits, which I particularly desire to do. And now I leave this whole business in the hands of God & you. Pray for us. To God's most holy keeping I commit you. May your blessed work flourish more & more; & your own hearts be ever full of Divine love.
I am, my very dear Friends, & Brethren,
Yours very affectionately & faithfully,
Thomas Coke
Drew University Library
Though the heading of the letter is not given, it is quite clear that the addressee was Bennet Kendrick. The school and church at Wilmington are the subjects of discussion. An elegant church was built at Wilmington, which was referred to in Asbury's visit in 1805. As usual, the building of a church has its problems.
WILMINGTON, N.C.
January 16, 1806
To Bennet Kendrick [Bennet Kendrick was pastor at Wilmington.]
My very dear and faithful Son:
May the wisdom which is profitable to direct, and the power that is mighty to keep, be with you. I can only see the outside of things. As to the school it was not very pleasing to me to be put out of my house, so called, but it is said it is to keep away troublesome company; and employ a teacher, that he might not sink into mischievous melancholy. It is to be lamented that the country around is so unpromising, and the dwelling in danger, when the preacher is present or absent. God has kept us or we had been burnt up before this time. What I have told them to do, has been done in enlarging the house [Asbury says, "We had about fifteen hundred hearers in our house of worship, sixty six by thirty three feet, galleried all around. I gave order for the completion of the tabernacle and dwelling house, according to the charge left me by William Meredith." (See Journal, 1852 ed., January 19, 1806.)] and the galleries; the house ought to be weatherboarded, on that old part, and the new part finished, and the outside painted. The black people like the whites grow worldly-minded.
I have thought that sister Beckards or Richards should have her board, and the house room gratis for her services. A preacher must not keep a horse; if he does this he ought to keep school or something to help the society. As to the property, I know but little about it, and I shall continue so until it is properly deeded, and entered on a book by lots. I have thought if we had not better stop leasing our lots, that we may not get crowded. I am by no means pleased with the dwelling house standing so near the church. If the house would not fall to pieces I would have it moved ten feet towards the kitchen, and ten or fifteen feet added, and two new chimneys, one to the house, and another to the lodging rooms, and fire places above. There ought to be something collected from the white people. The object of a Christian school for white children cannot be put upon the Africans, that are not permitted to raise any benefit from it at all. Again, I cannot shackle the appointments with this, that the preacher stationed here shall be schoolmaster.
I have had great groaning and altercation about Brother Myers' [Lewis Myers was removed from the Bladen appointment on the Camden District to Charleston. (See Minutes, 1805, 1806.)] removal. If any thing might be done that a school might be kept under the superintendence of the preacher (but I might send a man unfitted for that,) a schoolhouse ought to be built if it was judged proper, but I cannot but tell every man among us, not to entangle himself with the affairs of this world. You are wise and skillful and must judge of what is right.
It is not impossible as the Conference takes extraordinary visits in going a Christmasing that at some happy period it might come here, and be held once in four or five years in North Carolina. I wish that this year should conclude on improvement in Wilmington. I am looking to you that I have always found faithful. I guess your collection will be six hundred dollars this year. You will not spend above two hundred dollars in house keeping. The housekeeper may keep a girl, but not a woman with a child and husband. I hope that you will take the trouble to supply the house with what you will want, just what you choose, but do it yourself, and give the account to the stewards, and let them supply you with money. There is complaint from the old lady, that she is two words lost difficulty and the people, the blacks have themselves and their own work to do, you must read, and put in a word and guess at the rest. I have been very much afflicted by riding through the excessive cold. You can write to me in Baltimore by the month of July. We shall wish to know your spiritual and temporal state in Wilmington.
I am confidently, yours in Jesus,
F. Asbury
The Southern Christian Advocate. Transcribed by A. D. Belts
Here Asbury is following the example of Wesley and giving suggestions for healing. Some of his concoctions were very primitive, and of course useless so far as cancer is concerned. John Wesley had already written his book. Physic, which had gone into several editions.
ISLE OF WIGHT VA.
February 22, 1806
To Mrs. Mary Pilkinton[She lived near Brunswick Courthouse, Virginia. ]
My very dear Sister:
May great grace rest upon you now and in the power of death. 1 feel for your soul and body. The latter must return to death, and dust, the former, to endless bliss. If you are not too far gone, one peck of red oak bark burnt to ashes, boiled to a very stiff substance, to make a plaster applied and reapplied till the roots of the cancer are eaten away. Then apply a soft healing salve of malorate or any healing salve. You will be well, by the blessing of God. Oh my sister faith and prayer, and perfect love, and then to glory. Your bishops, one is sixty, the other [Whatcoat.] is near 70, and we have seven conferences to visit, and the seventeen United States, and about 5000 miles to ride in nine months. I have many letters to write and my eyes fail but my faith is stronger than ever.
The glorious increase, Virginia Conference 2390, Western Conference 813, South Carolina 965, pray with your latest breath for Zion's glory. We hope there were near 100 souls converted in Norfolk and Portsmouth during the sitting of conference and we hope for another 100 before all the preachers leave the towns. Oh, glory Hallelujah, and a rich supply of preachers for every station and circuit. I am your dear brother that knoweth how to feel for, and pity the afflicted and fatherless and widows, that are widows in deed Christians, in deed, thy maker is thy husband, the Lord of hosts is his name. May the everlasting arms surround you now and ever.
Your father, brother and friend,
Francis Asbury
Duke University Library
The notes prepared by Frank Baker make this letter one of the most interesting in the collection. The relations of Coke and Asbury have been the subject of much discussion and some controversy.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
May 7, 1806
To Thomas Coke
My very dear Brother Coke:
Grace grace attend thee, and thine, and the ministers of Christ and people of God in every land. Having passed my three score years, I feel
the happiness of seeing each other again, can we ever forget the days and nights we have sweetly spent together; spirits sweetly joined, and not a jar;[ The relations ofAsbury and Coke have drawn much speculation. It was so in their own day. In spite of the inevitable variances of opinion between two such great leaders, there was undoubtedly a bond of warm affection between them. On January 6,1806, Coke addressed a letter to the New York Conference vindicating himself from their suspicions of him, but reiterating his conviction that it would be wasted effort for him to come to America "as a mere preacher," but only if he could help them by exercising episcopal functions, as he had originally been asked to do. (See Duren's Asbury, 256-64.) In March the Baltimore Conference drafted a reply, which was to be presented to the other conferences. Asbury's Journal admits that it was written "in a manner that will not please him." The answers of the various conferences told Coke in effect, "You need not trouble to come back." In this personal letter Asbury tries to soften the blow with expressions of personal affection, even though he himself seems to have been at least partly in accord with the decisions not to ask Coke to honor his promise to settle in America for good. Bitter tongues had been wagging in England also, and Coke was the more anxious to advertise the fact of Asbury's friendship. On receiving this letter, therefore, he sent it on to Joseph Benson, who had been appointed Connexional Editor to the English Conference in 1805, endorsed with a plea that he should insert this avowal of friendship in The Methodist Magazine:
To Mr. Benson Very dear Friend,
I shall take it as a peculiar favor, if you will print every thing Mr. Asbury says in this letter concerning me, except what he observes about my commentary; as I wish that the Methodists in Europe may have a testimony, that Mr. Asbury & I did always labor together in love. Do oblige me in this. I intend to send you some more letters from Bristol in a very few days. My dear wife unites with me in love to you and Mrs. Benson, Miss Benson & all the family. I am, my dear Sir, Your affectionate & faithful Friend
T. Coke.
Benson obliged in part. About half the letter, paraphrased as usual, was included in the November issue of the magazine. Of Asbury's professions of love, however, only the opening sentences and closing salutation are included. (Frank Baker.) ] unless Diotrephes's[Thomas Rankin. (See letter of August 15, 1788] here, or there, formed for discord, whispered evilly. Ah my brother the deep rivers, creeks, swamps, and deserts we have traveled together, and glad to find a light to hear the voice of human, or domestick creature; the mountain rains, and chilling colds or burning heats, to say nothing of the perils of the deep. How oft you have stemmed the flood, the vast Atlantic with Columbian courage. Only be thou faithful unto death and Jesus will give thee the crown of life. Life eternal Life!
After riding chiefly upon horseback till the last summer, I have bought a very light stage wagon, by this mode I can visit the seven conferences with most of the cities and towns in the year. I have a young man [Joseph Crawford.] to drive, write, and preach, every night, when I preach in the day, unless when we are upon our flights, 40, 50, or more miles in the day. In 5 of the 7 conferences we have an increase of members 8273, preachers 58, but as judgment is begun at the house of God we mean to have no cyfers zeros in our connection; I do not calculate upon an increase of above 25 or 30 preachers.
As to the work of God it is greater than ever, and will be universal, it is growing general. In the 5 conferences past, we must calculate upon 500 subjects of restoring, converting, and sanctifying grace at the times of sitting: harmony, zeal, and order, animates the whole campmeetings.[ Benson, in printing this letter in The Methodist Magazine, omits reference to camp meetings, making the letter read as if the revivals are simply at the conferences. The lengthy and emotional description of camp meetings in the second part of the letter is similarly omitted. The reason is not far to seek. English Methodist leaders were afraid of the emotional excesses that might accompany such gatherings in England about which Lorenzo Dow had enthused in visiting the British Isles. The 1807 British Conference gave its official ruling on the matter thus: "It is our judgment, that, even supposing such meetings to be allowable in America, they are highly improper in England, and likely to be productive of considerable mischief. And we disclaim all connexion with them." It was the breaking of this ban that brought about the formation of the largest cleavage in British Methodism by the formation of the Primitive Methodist Connexion. (Frank Baker.)] Oh Glory, 0 Glorious! In Delaware the millennium is certainly begun. They can live without slavery, or liquid fire, the presiding elder has planned 100 nights and days to be in the woods. This work is now prevailing from Oconee, to Kennebeck River.[ Georgia to Maine.] In my last route from Baltimore to Baltimore, 4000 miles in 8 months, I visited and revisited in part Delaware, Pennsylvania, Jersey, York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, indeed I did touch the State of Vermont.
You will not expect to hear from me but once in a year. I shall change my mode and go north west, and not return through the cities. I shall go like the scape goat into the wilderness, and rest from this tempest of trouble with the conferences; from June to September. If you wish to have any thing for your magazine from America, chaste and purified, I would advise you to print from our Annual Letter Book. I would advise you to commit the care of your books to Cooper and Wilson.[ Ezekiel Cooper and John Wilson, Book Agents.] I go like the mail stage in all parts of the continent.
What God will do with the old I can not say but I think the new world will be converted by 1000 in a year. And yet I must say American sinners, are the greatest sinners upon earth, they sin against such mercy, blessings, and privileges. We are young in age; but old as a people, growing in pride and fullness of bread; but when I think, we hope, ours and others, form 5000 Gospel ministers, men, we hope, that feel the truth; and preach it, and when I hope for the prayers of many, ten thousands of people, I say surely God will work. I must not forget to inform you that the Western
Conference has not been unmindful of the region beyond, far south west' to Louisiana, and the Territories on the Mississippi. We have six missionaries that have gone six, eight, or nine hundred miles through the wilderness of savage tribes to the lost sheep of the house of America, the poor Christian savages. More of this you will see in our missionaries' own letters in the Annual Letter Book preparing for the press.
My dear friend you are a witness to my poverty for more than twenty years or I had done more for you, but I have attended you by night and day, have fitted your horse, held your bridle and stirrup, lent you my own horse, and with all the attention of a servant and often in a dark night called out, where is the Doctor, nor I alone, but all my brethren. You have never had more undissembled friendship shown to you than in America. I have a receipt from George Suckley[George Suckley was a New York merchant of forty who had apparently come over to the United States with Coke, having received his first "class ticket" from John Wesley himself. (See J. B. Wakeley's, Lost Chapters Recovered from the Early History of American Methodism, 562-63.)] for 45 pounds thirteen and six pence sterling. This you will receive of Mr. Holley and pay to Mr. Rankin.[ Thomas Rankin.] When I am able I will make up the one hundred sterling. As eve thine
F. Asbury
P.S. Since I began this letter I have received yours London, January 1, 1806. We have progressed in our campmeeting 4 days about 20 miles north east of New York. Oh what a time we have had, in uninterrupted work of God night and day. Never was an army in the time of war under greater discipline, men upon guard night and day, near 100 travelling, and local preachers; and possibly 3000 people; souls convicted, converted, sanctified night and day. Several praying societies at the tents; and, on the circle, should I guess I should say one if not 200 souls under operations of great preachers; my self, came and gone thousand year; near two from Charleston; others from one hundred to fifty rich and poor many tents, markees, coaches, wagons, chairs. Monday the fourth day victory! victory declared upon our side, preaching at 10, 2 o'clock, 7, midnight, and cock crowing. Oh, the power of overwhelming power! upon the preachers, the members, the people of the world. We felt God was so great in the praying exercises we could not call off the people to preaching, seeing that the preachers like the priest at the dedication could not stand before the Lord, weeping, weeping on all sides. You will excuse me when I tell you I;
have not slept an hour in bed.
You will find me with a letter . . . Oh my Brother it is matter of joy that so much of life is past with me, that I am not dead, nor damned, backslidden, as some have shamefully done. I have heard of but one preacher dead this year, Brother Iliff,[ Benjamin Iliff, native of Buck County, Pennsylvania. (See Minutes, 1806.) ] that died immediately after the sitting of the Philadelphia Conference last year. When I think I am in the sixty first year of my life, 44 of my publick labors, the 40th year of my slight travelling; and have been so much exposed to good and bad preachers, and people; I feel humbled for any imprudence; forgive me my friend, if I have ever grieved or offended you, for if I have, it was unwillingly. If I knew how to address Mrs. Coke[On April 1, 1805, Coke had married Penelope Goulding Smith, the only surviving child of "an eminent Attorney" of Bradford-on-Avon. She also was included in Coke's offer of himself without reserve to America. Although fifteen years younger than Coke, she died before him, greatly lamented. (Frank Baker.)] I would do it, but St. Paul has done it, and told us what the wife of a deacon, and bishop ought to be. I am to you both one of your best and faithful affectionate friends F. Asbury
Photostat at Methodist Mission House, London. Transcribed by Frank Baker
This is the third letter to Epaphras Kibby which has come to light. He was a member of the New England Conference and in 1806 was pastor at New Bedford. It seems that Kibby was to miss the annual conference, and Asbury is stressing the importance of the annual conference.
WALTHAM, MASS.
May 29, 1806
To Epaphras Kibby
My dear Kibby:
May great grace attend thee as a Christian and minister of the Gospel. Brother Pickering has informed me you are in New Bedford and the prospects are pleasing. You are past the follies of youth; and are not to be taken with appearances, without fruit. You know the Methodist and Gospel Doctrine; and what is the Methodist and scripture discipline. You will walk closely with God, you will possess in your own soul, and preach to others, Gospel purity, Christian perfection.
In my own soul I have great consolations. I may boast a little to a confidant, 5000 miles in nine months, is my count. I have visited six of the 7 Conferences. God, the Lord was with us at all of them; but eminently Norfolk, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, we hope one hundred souls were blest, converted, reconverted, or sanctified at each seat of the three Conferences. At New York nothing special, but at the Campmeeting 22 miles north great! Great! operations.
The neat increase this year in the six Conferences, 9990, besides deaths, removals, and expulsions. Query with me, if it is one-third of the fruit of our labors, when many are out of reach of society; others taken by other denominations. It seems you can not possibly attend Conference; you should have written. We must try to compound with our up Land Brethren, to come down to the water once in two years; that we may have a full conference once in two years at least; it is not easy to tell the great use, and dignity, of our Annual Conference to tone, and retone the Connection ; swiftly increasing annually by (the) thousand, to the extremities of the East, and West, North, and South above 2000 miles.
I am in the same affection and truly yours,
F. Asbury
New England Methodist Historical Society, Boston School of Theology
Richard Whatcoat has died, and Thomas Coke's proposals to return to America under certain conditions have been turned down. There is now only one active bishop. Asbury realizes that something must be done to strengthen the episcopacy.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
July 15, 1806
To Bonnet Kendrick[Unaddressed, but evidently to Bennet Kendrick, the pastor at Wilmington. George Dougharty was the presiding elder on the Camden District, South Carolina.]
My very dear Son:
Grace, mercy and peace attend thee. Zion travaileth, she bringeth forth children. This is the great year of God. I have gone like the mail-stage three thousand miles since I saw you. I have passed and repassed from hence through all the States, in brief, from Baltimore to the District of Maine, through New Hampshire, Vermont, and the State of New York, campmeetings, campmeetings. I have heard of eight or ten north of New York. I attended three. Our Baltimore, Philadelphia and New England Conferences were blessed seasons.
On the Eastern shore of Delaware and Maryland it is reported, with all the certainty the case will admit, that about four thousand have been converted at the camp and quarterly meetings since the Philadelphia Conference in May, and one thousand sanctified. Peace and union in the conferences and city societies.
Dear Whatcoat,[ Bishop Whatcoat died in Dover, Delaware, July 5. He was interred under the altar of Wesley Dover Church. (See Journal, July 8, 1806.) The following is taken from the memoir printed in the Minutes, 1807, 388: "March 30, 1807, at the place of his tomb, Wesley Chapel in Dover; Bishop Asbury made some funeral observations upon the death of Richard Whatcoat, his faithful colleague, from II Timothy iii, 10. 'But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, charity, patience.' That he had known Richard Whatcoat, from his own age of 14 to 62 years,
most intimately, and had tried him most accurately, in the soundness of his faith, in the doctrine of universal depravity, and the complete and general atonement. The insufficiency of either moral or ceremonial righteousness for justification, in opposition to faith alone in the merit and righteousness of Christ.-The doctrine of regeneration and sanctification; his holy manner of life, in duty, at all times, in all places, and before all people, as a Christian, and as a Minister; his long suffering, a man of great affliction of body and mind; having been exercised with severe diseases and great labors; but this did not abate his charity, his love of God and man, in all its effects, tempers, words and actions; bearing with resignation and patience great temptations, bodily labors and inexpressible pain. In life and death, placid and calm; as he lived so he died. Richard Whatcoat was born 1736, in Quinton, Gloucestershire, Old England, became a hearer of the Methodists at 21 years of age.
Converted, September 3, 1758.
Sanctified, March 28, 1761.
Began to travel in 1769.
Came to America, 1784.
Elected Superintendent in May, 1800.
Died at Dover in Delaware, July 5, 1806.
] after four years awful affliction, and three months martyrdom of pain, with the gravel and stone, died in meekness, patience and triumph, July 5th. Such a man I never knew in Europe or America. Who ever saw him laugh, or heard him speak an idle word; unspotted character for forty-seven or eight years.
Dr. Coke[See letter and notes. May 7, 1806.] has made proposals to serve the connection on a different ground, the conferences, all that have heard, have rejected the Doctor's letter, the answers are all reserved, and sent on, for every conference has written. Nothing is hidden.
Indeed, I did think very seriously about building White Chapel at the other end of the town, wholly for the whites. I felt for the awful fire, poor Wilmington! You are on the right track, go on, slow, safe, and sure.
I am just crossing the line for the Western Conference. Brother Crawford[Joseph Crawford. Asbury says on Thursday, July 3, "Joseph Crawford came over the ferry with me, when about to part, he turned away his face and wept. Ah I am not made for such scenes, I felt exquisite pain." (See Journal.) Crawford was appointed to New Rochelle, New York. ] is gone to his home circuit; never I think will I take another man around the continent with me, unless he stands upon the same ground with myself. I will save my own and his feelings. I am alone in a sulky, and shall take help as it offers. Tell George[George Daugharty.] his letter came to George[George Pickering, presiding elder, Boston District. ] of Boston. It was read in the Conference, I believe every man felt it. I wonder he has not written to some man of standing in every conference. I did not hear a single sentiment controverted. In writing to you I write to George,[ George Daugharty.] to all. I am in haste in earnest.
Thine the same,
F. Asbury
P.S. Glorious increase of numbers of members-10,625. Increase of preachers 36-others like you swept the docket, no I will and I will not, shall, and I shall not. Judgment is begun at the house of God-one death[Benjamin Iliff. ] -two expelled.[ Minutes show only Sylvester Foster.] Several, yea, all the conferences have furnished some choice and most excellent young men. Some dear good men are tremblingly alive for the Superintendency, they see it all but done-in the hands of a weak old man of sixty-one years of age. I feel something must be done speedily! Nothing but the expense of postage prevents me forwarding the minutes, they have been out a week.
Southern Christian Advocate. Transcribed by Albert D. Belts
Alexander M'Caine was one of the three preachers assigned to Baltimore City in 1805. He was getting restless because he was unable to support his family. Jesse Lee in his A Short History of the Methodists says that M'Caine retired in 1806 to support his family. However, in 1815 he reentered the traveling connection and continued until 1821, when he finally retired from the Methodist Episcopal Church ministry. He frequently traveled with Asbury. After Asbury's death he became one of the reformers and later one of the founders of the Methodist Protestant Church. He served as one of its leaders in South Carolina and Alabama, and served as secretary of the General Conference. He was one of a group of reformers who were expelled from the church for agitation. He died in 1856 in his ninetieth year.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
July 16, 1806
To Alexander M'Caine[M'Caine was known for his "bluntness." He was a great apologist for the reformers. M'Caine located in 1806, as did George Roberts. Their names are shown under those located in the Baltimore Conference. (See Colhouer, Sketches of the Founders of the Methodist Protestant Church, for M'Caine's sketch, 90-119. See letters March 29, 1799; April 30, 1815; July 1,1815; also preface to M'Caine's Letters.)]
My dear Son:
If I loved thee less, I should not put myself to pain and scribbling. I love you, you know. I have always manifested it. Your honest bluntness I approve, &c.
As ever,
F. Asbury
Alexander M'Caine, A Defence of the Truth, 15
Asbury wrote Coke shortly after the death of Whatcoat to tell him of it. He suggests that a service be conducted by Coke in England. Asbury gives his appreciation of Whatcoat. The remainder of the letter is largely taken up with an account of the work.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
July 17, 1806
To Thomas Coke[This letter was addressed to Coke at the Methodist Chapel, Truro, England.]
My honoured Brother:
Grace, peace, power and prudence always attend you. Your letter of May 5th is before me. Our venerable Whatcoat [Bishop Whatcoat. (See note to letter, July 15, 1806.)] resteth from his labors. He left the world of sorrow July 5th at the house of the late Governor Bassett, Delaware, Dover. Oh why should I stain his inimitable character with recommendation. For near 50 years as a Christian, near 40 as a local and travelling preacher, 37 years he has been employed in the grand consequential station, upon the continent, cities, districts, and superintendency. Never was there a European character so pleasing to the Americans or more generally loved, and lamented. Whoever saw him laugh, or heard him speak an idle word. Deadness to the world! he died without money sufficient to pay his expenses, had he been charged.
While the present generation lives, Whatcoat will never be forgotten. For some years he has been awfully afflicted with the gravel, which terminated in the stone. He suffered martyrdom in pain night and day. He travelled near 3000 miles the last year of his life. As he lived, so he died a pattern of patience and victory. I think his funeral you ought to preach in Wednesburg, the society he long graced with his membership, may they never have a more unworthy member in America, a meaner superintendent or bishop.
I have lost a friend, a father, a brother! He was my first choice as a colleague to America. He had many traits in his character. I have not so fully seen in myself or any other man, so universally serious, an Israelite indeed, envy itself could not charge him with guile, in fine, and in fact. I think him to have been one of the very best characters in the British or American Connexion. Had he ceased to labor like other old men, he might have lived to 88, possibly he is passed 70. You express your pleasure he was able to attend so many or all the conferences; this may be done by riding 3000 miles, but Brother Whatcoat had visited the 35 districts as one charge; and every circuit 5000 miles in 10 months is what a superintendent ought to do.
From New York I took a hop to Portland, Dartmouth, Vermont, up the heights and rocks of White River, and down Onion River to Burlington, upon Lake Champlain, Ticonderoga and Crown Point, 1000 miles back to New York. Oh the glorious prospects in general, I suppose that north of New York there has been and will be 20 campmeetings. I came the first of May, 1806 to the end of the year. Eastern Shore excells all. We have good reason to believe that 4000 souls have been converted in the two districts, and 1000 souls. Dr. Chandler[William P. Chandler was presiding elder of the Delaware District. (See his report, August 5, 1805.) ] writes 40 nights in the woods since Conference held in Philadelphia, April 4, 1806. Another Doctor says 110 nights more, to think of 150 nights in the woods at camp and Quarter meetings. Our people calculate largely of thousands that attend, some go from 10,000 to 15,000, they talk of a campmeeting to begin today near Dover, at Wheat they expect 20,000 souls. At a campmeeting in Sussex, Delaware, late June, from the 12th to the 17th, 1165 converted toward the 4 thousand, I calculated upon, 606 sanctified, they do not include persons convicted, and restored. These things will stretch the credibility of your British Brethren. I need not write often in this marvellous manner, once a year will do. As to the increase of numbers you will see in the minutes. It is a great thing to be an Oxonian,[ Oxford University. ] a man of honor, and learning. Perhaps if you go to untying the knot you will find work If people throughout then vomit when they are heart sick, or brain sick I leave them to like it. I have no disputes with any; they may have them to their selves.[ This was crossed out.] I am in great respect to you, and ---- Mamma,[ Asbury's mother died in 1802. This is someone else.] Sister Coke with all the Brethren preachers and people in Europe. I can only help you with my prayers who am your friend and Brother in Jesus, F. Asbury
P.S. I have deposited in the hands of George Stuckley[Asbury's lay friend in New York.] (my trusty well beloved Brother) near the sum of 50 pounds sterling to pass your hands to Mr. Rankin[Thomas Rankin, who had formerly been in America.] on Mr. Williams'[Robert Williams, who had handled books and whose accounts Asbury had been settling for some years. Williams is called the "Father of Methodism in Virginia." Rankin and Asbury were Williams' executors.] account. Should I live another year I hope to pay the whole next year but I am the same pecunious man I always was. I travel in a sulky alone, and had to borrow 105 dollars to pay for it. I may boast of my riding 5000 miles a year but I preach but little only on Sabbaths. I have neither time nor strength.
Duke University Library
The subject of this letter is Christian perfection or sanctification. Asbury preached the doctrine and insisted that his preachers preach it. Henry Smith's Recollections are good word pictures of the early itinerant preachers.
DR. WATTERS', MONTGOMERY, MD.[ See reference. Journal, 1852 ed., July 19,1806.]
July 20, 1806
To Henry Smith[Though the letter is directed to the Rev. H. Smith, this was Henry Smith who was pastor on the Baltimore Circuit. It was he who wrote the Recollections and Reflections of an Old Itinerant.]
My very dear Smith:
May great grace attend you. I consent to what you say, in general. O, purity! O, Christian perfection! O, Sanctification! It is heaven below to feel all sin removed. Preach it, whether they will bear or forbear. Preach it. You have never experienced the realities of heaven or hell, but preach them. Some have professed it, perfect love but have fallen from it; others profess, but do not possess it. They trifle away life. They seldom use the gift God hath given them. I think we ought modestly to tell what we feel in the fullest. For two years past, amidst incredible toils, I have enjoyed almost inexpressible sensations. Our Pentecost is come, in some places, for sanctification.
I have good reason to believe that upon the Eastern Shore 4000 have been converted since the first of May last, and 1000 sanctified, besides souls convicted, and quickened, and restored: Oh glory, it will come across the Bay. I have reason to believe that at the Philadelphia Conference many of the preachers were powerfully blest in their own souls and covenanted to use ordinary and extraordinary means that have appeared in their being at least. Brother Chandler, 40 nights and days in the woods at camp and quarterly meeting, and possibly will be 110 more before November. 10 camp meetings north of New York in about 2 months and more laid out now.
I think we congregate 2 millions in a year; and I hope for 100,000 souls convicted, converted, restored, or sanctified. The whole continent is awake. I am on a route of 3000 miles, from and to Baltimore. Such a work of God, I believe, was never known, for the number of people. The preachers will die in harvest field, as it lasts all the year. I believe Brother Whatcoat died a martyr for the work. Farewell in Jesus.
I am still thine.
F. Asbury
P.S. I had to speak two hours to-day on the drought and was so worn out I had to write to forget myself.[ On the envelope are some figures showing members justified and sanctified. It is not clear whether these are in Asbury's handwriting.]
Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference (Lovely Lane Museum)
Peter Cartwright was the best-known preacher of the West in the early days of American Methodism. He was born in Amherst County, Virginia, on the James River. His parents early moved to Kentucky. He was licensed to exhort in 1802 and formed the Livingston Circuit in 1803 at the age of nineteen. He did much to pioneer for the Methodist Church in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. He was a striking figure, and not only took part in opening up the country but also took part in political life in Illinois. He was twice a member of the state legislature of the state of Illinois and ran against Abraham Lincoln for Congress, but was defeated. He was a friend of Andrew Jackson and one of the founders of the Illinois State Historical Society. Cartwright was received on trial into the Western Conference in 1804 and was ordained deacon by Asbury in 1806.[ Peter Cartwright (1785-1872). In Cartwright's Autobiography he says that the correct date was September 16, 1806, though the Minutes stated 1807. Cartwright had come five hundred miles to conference from Zanesville, Ohio, where all the salary he had collected for the year was forty dollars. At this conference he was assigned to the Marietta Circuit in Ohio.] He was ordained elder by Bishop McKendree in 1808. In that year Bishop Asbury appointed him a presiding elder. He preached for seventy years, retiring in 1875 at the age of eighty-five. He was a presiding elder for fifty-four years and a member of thirteen General Conferences.
The Ordination Certificate of Peter Cartwright
NOLLICHUCKIE, TENNESSEE
September 16, 1806
Know all by these presents, That I, Francis Asbury, Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America, under the protection of Almighty God, and with a single eye to his glory, by the imposition of my hands and prayer, have this day set apart Peter Cartwright for the office of a Deacon in the said Methodist Episcopal Church; a man whom I judge to be well qualified for that work; and do hereby recommend him to all whom it may concern, as a proper person to administer the ordinances of baptism, marriage, and the burial of the dead, in the absence of an elder, and to feed the flock of Christ, so long as his spirit and practice are such as become the Gospel of Christ, and he continues to hold fast the form of sound words, according to the established doctrine of the Gospel.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six.
Francis Asbury
Autobiography of Peter Cartwright, 97
Henry Smith was on the Baltimore Circuit. Asbury needed him in South Carolina and thought he was doing him a favor to ask him to come. However, Smith thought differently according to his entry in his Recollections. Joshua Wells went to Wilmington. Smith was changed to Fells Point Circuit in the Baltimore District.
WAXSAWS, S.C.
October 10, 1806
To Henry Smith
My dear Son:
Grace and peace attend thy spirit. I was musing in my mind yesterday, when feeling so troubled for the South Carolina Conference, with all that impartiality that becomes a general superintendent of seven annual conferences. It suddenly sprung up in my mind to write to Henry Smith to come with all haste to Charleston, if possible, by the first or middle of December. Immediately I write, and do not confer with flesh and blood. Our fields in this conference are white for harvest. The laborers are faint and few. Not that I would call preachers from other conferences, supposing the natives of that state were not competent, if we had them; or willingly invite men to come so far. Your rheumatic affliction may meet with a cure in one year or nine months in Charleston. Preachers do not enter, nor continue in the work here, as in the middle conferences, to marry is to locate! The people are short lived, we must make haste to save them.
In Charleston we have one thousand members. They have souls. 3000 steady Sabbath hearers, that change, perhaps, to 15 or 20,000, in the whole year. I advise you to sell your horse, or lend him to a preacher, if you cannot sell. You will take the mail stage, and come in haste; (the King's business requires haste). But, after all, if you feel any insurmountable difficulties in your way, or stubborn objections, I deal not in imperious commands. I must do the best I can with the strength we have. With the same post, a letter accompanies yours to Joshua Wells. If you can meet him in Baltimore, you can come together to Fayetteville.[ North Carolina.] Then he Wells will turn off to Wilmington.
As to the expenses of your passage, I shall desire the stewards to pay the whole. We have two meeting-houses, 60 by 40 feet each. We have a dwelling-house in the suburbs of the city. Two rooms, one above and one below, for each preacher, and anything that you will need; and as wicked a city as any in America. But Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. I have visited that place, and stayed for days and nights among boarders, as wicked as fiends. Now I have provided a house for my children. I cannot as long as I superintend, which may not be long, see any part of the work suffer, if there is help to be had. Your age, your steady mind, and your not being incumbered, at present, have moved me.
I have had an awful summer for heat and ill health; but a blessed conference. Good news from the Missionaries, added between 1300 or 1400 in the Western Conference, all union and love. Brother Watson[John Watson was one of the preachers on the Frederick Circuit, Alexandria District.] or some preacher will supply your place. You will write to me at Sparta, Hancock county, Georgia, if possible, before the conference rises, that I may know what to do with the stations, when I know whether you can come or not.[ Following the letter, H. Smith writes in Recollections and Reflections of an Old Itinerant, 217: "Brother Wells was more righteous than I; for he obeyed the call like an obedient son in the gospel, but I was disobedient. ..." Smith was later censured before the conference. "In substance, the bishop said, he did not wish what he said to have a bearing upon me as an individual; but wished it to be distinctly understood that the preachers must be prompt and obedient, or the world could not be filled up."
(Lawrence Sherwood.)] I have just escaped from the mountains; I have rode rapidly; and can hardly find a place to sit down without the bawling of children. Night comes on; and I close with saying, preach sanctification, directly and indirectly, in every discourse. My love to all the brethren. I am as ever, your father and friend,
F. Asbury
P.S. I shall only observe, that Baltimore Conference has about 18,000 members of society; South Carolina 12,000. I doubt if we shall be able to send out 40 traveling preachers from the south. Baltimore has about sixty, besides local men. We shall in the south meet in time, the brethren in the west, and take South America, and all the Floridas, French and Spanish, if the work goes on. Farewell.
F.A.
Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference (Lovely Lane Museum)
Thomas Haskins was a friend of long standing. From this letter it is evident that he had been appointed trustee of Dickins' estate and that he was charged with settling the Book Concern business which had been in the hands of Dickins. It seems that a Mr. Amatt had first had responsibility but had died. This letter is printed in two sections in Francis H. Tees, The Beginnings of Methodism in England and in America.
HANGING ROCK, S.C.
20 MILES NORTHWEST OF CAMDEN
October 17, 1S06 To Thomas Haskins[Haskins was a grocer in Philadelphia and an official of St. George's Church. He took the place of John Dickins. Ezekiel Cooper was soon appointed Book Agent.]
My dear Son:
Grace and peace from Him that was, and is, and is to come. Amen.
John Dickins [John Dickins, the first Book Agent. ] knew his real friends, both to his temporal and spiritual interests. He wisely made choice of you at his death as his friend and a friend to the connection, you performed your trust. Happy it might have been, had all things continued in your management to the end; but of that no more, it is done.
The widow[Mrs. John Dickins.] writes me her friend Amatt is no more. May he rest in peace! I must request you if possible to take up the settlement of that broken estate; if you do not who will I do not expect that the widow or her children will receive any more benefit; no they must seek support from other sources, as they have done for four years past. I wish only that the profits may go to the suffering creditors, only this I know that Mrs. Dickins will feel more ease of mind when she knows where she stands, although she has little or no hope of receiving any relief from that quarter, except it is mental. I hope you can begin where Mr. Amatt left it, as he had progressed.
For my part I have always been poor but now I am in debt. I gathered up the fragments of Williams[Robert Williams, who died near Portsmouth, Virginia, called the first Methodist preacher in Virginia. He located when he married. He had handled Wesley's books until he was stopped by order of the conference. The conference took over his business.] books and deposited the hundred pounds sterling, which is burnt up in Cokesbury and Mr. Rankin[Thomas Rankin and Asbury were the executors.] made me executor, without my will. I told what I had done. He now demands the money and I must pay my Brother Rankin, or that part of my character will not come up to the other. I must pay 100 sterling out of my own pocket.
You see now how you and I have gained by the College, with my ten years toil and drudgery, and abuse, if any are made, we may expect the College will come up. Our dearly beloved Coleman[The Rev. John Coleman to whom Jarratt wrote his letters. (See note to letter, January 11, 1796.)] has published Jarratt's[Devereux Jarratt, the minister of the Established Church who befriended the Methodist preachers in Virginia. The Coleman letters were published in 1806 in The Life of the Reverend Devereux Jarratt, written by himself. (Rare Book Collection, Library of Congress.)] Life in letters, with a kick at Cokesbury, (Shoemakers and Tailors) to set up a college.
I have this pleasure that we have the greatest possible harmony in the conferences. All the conferences are satisfied with your conduct, as trustees, your correctness and fidelity, and so they would be were you to publish as your fund expense, a few hundred copies of the charter, with a fervent begging letter, and you would have supplies from the living or the dead or both.
My dear Son I hope you are more than ever devoted to God in preaching; and living; time is short. I'm greatly amended in health, than when I wrote last. I have only to say I sit on a joyless height, a pinacle of power, too high to sit secure and unenvied, too high to sit secure without divine aid. My bodily and mental powers fail, I have a charge too great for many men with minds like mine. I hope not to jump down, fall down, or be thrown by haughty ambition, but I mean to step down as soon and safely and completely as I can; and not to stand alone, but break the fire by having more objects than one.
I am happy, the ship is so safe in harbor with an increase of 10,000 annually but how many more, if the dead, and removed and expelled were numbered. Understand me right I mean to live for life, but not alone, the executive is far too weak. 4 years my local labors were little inferior to many traveling preachers. In the year 66, I began my present line of labor, between 40 and 50 times I have crossed the Allegheny mountains, swamps, and rivers, of the south going and returning.
When a man is in his 62 year it is not safe to trust a great work in his trembling hands. A president of a state of the states ought to know when to retire for fear of damages, and if heaven would insure my life, bodily and mental powers, I would heartily advise my brethren to provide immediately for such a charge! and not to rest it with me, or any one man upon earth. Only to think, seven conferences, 500 traveling preachers, possible two or three thousand local and official men, possible near ten millions in ---- or congregational charge, 100,000 in membership. Lord be merciful to me. Amen, pray for,
Your father,
Francis Asbury
Westminster Theological Seminary
Again Asbury is concerned over the camp meetings and is reporting them to Thornton Fleming. He is still sending around the news of the death of Whatcoat. It evidently took months to get news to the preachers. He reports especially on New York and the Western Conference.
CHARLESTON, S.C.
November 7, 1806
To Thornton Fleming[Presiding elder on the Monongahela District. (See other letter to Fleming, July 28, 1805.)]
My dear Son:
Great grace and peace be multiplied to thee and thine. The year 1806[The Methodist gain in 1806 was 10,625 (9 per cent.). (Minutes.)] has produced great changes in the natural and political world-but in America it is in the spiritual world! Stith Mead,[ Presiding elder, Richmond District, Virginia.] from the Richmond District, from March to August, 400 converted and a number sanctified. Shands [It seems that the reference is to W. Shands on the Bedford Circuit of Stith Mead's Richmond District.] built houses or huts for camp meetings, and lived nearly 100 days and nights in the woods till November. Brother Chandler,[ Chandler was presiding elder on the Delaware District.] 150 days and nights in the woods, from May 3 to November, 1806. From May to August 29, converted 5368, sanctified, 2805, in the Delaware District. Somerset camp meeting, converted, 1165, sanctified, 606. Dover campmeeting, converted, 123; sanctified, 919.
Oh, my brother, when all our quarterly meetings become campmeetings,[ This is a reference to the rapidly growing Methodist practice in the first decade of the nineteenth century of making the summer quarterly meetings of the circuits camp meetings, at which great spiritual victories were won. This shows that Asbury urged this procedure upon the presiding elders. (W. G. Smeltzer.)] and 1000 souls should be converted, our American millennium will begin. And when the people in our towns and country assemble by thousands, and are converted by hundreds, night after night, what times! Lord, increase our faith. Nothing is too hard for him who made and redeemed a world.
I was gladdened in the Western Conference increase, 1400; increase of preachers, 12. Our missionaries healthy and successful in the new purchase.[ This refers to the Methodist invasion of the Louisiana Purchase. Asbury sent E.W. Bowman into Louisiana in 1805. (Matthew Simpson, Cyclopedia of Methodism, 547.) (W. G. Smeltzer.)] When those new lands, discovered by Col. Lewis,[ Refers to the Lewis and dark expedition to the Pacific. It shows Asbury's farranging vision of fields for evangelistic conquest. (See notes on Meriweather Lewis, September 7, 1803, in the Journal.)] shall be peopled, we shall send out to the Pacific Ocean. The universal harmony of the connexion foretells a period at hand for the organization of the Superintendence, so as not to rest it with such weight upon shoulders burdened with the weight of threescore years, and deeply read in cares.
There is a blessed work breaking out in the city and State of New York, which, we hope, will not only spread through the Lake country, but for God and his cause. The time may come when I must try the Redstone[Asbury had omitted his western trip of 1806. That year he had made an extensive tour in New England. In order to reach the seat of the Western Conference, held at Ebenezer, Nolichucky, Tennessee, in the Holston country on September 15, 1806, he omitted his annual swing through western Pennsylvania and Ohio, and reached the seat of the conference by going up the Shenandoah Valley. (Journal, August 6-September 15, 1806. Minutes, 1806.) (W. G. Smeltzer.)]settlement once more. Our Western Conference is at Chillicothe, September 14, 1807. I hope, if there is anything special on the District, you will write a complete narrative of the work to put into my hands at Baltimore Conference, should we live.
Dear Father Whatcoat, after thirteen weeks illness,-gravel, stone, and dysentery combined-died, a martyr to pain, in all his patience and resignation to the will of God. May we, like him, if we live long, live well, and die like him.
As ever thine,
Francis Asbury
The Pittsburgh Conference Journal, March 8, 1834. Transcribed by W. G. Smeltzer
Was this written to Alexander M'Caine or to someone else M'Caine says it is another Setter in his possession. It refers to the correspondence of Coke, especially his circular letter printed above.
SPARTA, GEORGIA
December 27, 1806
To Alexander M'Cawe [The letter as quoted by M'Caine has no address; however, it was evidently to M'Caine. (See Journal) He had been secretary of the General Conference.]
I wonder exceedingly why the British connexion should be so agitated with Dr. Coke about his letter to us. They seem like bees, and all heads! But had the Dr. only written his letter[The circular letter written to the New York Conference shortly after Coke's marriage. Coke proposed to become a resident in America, on the condition that the continent should be divided into two parts, one under him and the other under Asbury. The proposition was presented to the Annual Conference. An answer was sent to him congratulating him on his marriage but declining to accept his proposal. The proposition was to be referred to the General Conference. (See Bangs, History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, II, 179.) Coke wrote at least two letters in January, 1806, which are included here. (See circular letter, June 1, 1805.)] to me, I would have handed it to every conference at his desire. Yea if it had been an impeachment of my own person. * I do not correspond with any as I do with you. Only look well to your soul; to be holy is to be happy. Farewell in the Lord. Amen.
F. Asbury
Alexander M'Caine, Letters on the Organization and Early History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 153