August —, 1783 — to George Shadford, England

Asbury is bringing Shadford up to date on what has happened in Virginia. He had returned to England, and Asbury would like to have him return to America. The discussion of the ordinances had become a matter of argument in Maryland. It did not cease, however. In August, Asbury was in Pennsylvania.

PENNSYLVANIA¹

August —, 1783

[TO GEORGE SHADFORD, ENGLAND]²

Long has been thy absence; many, many have been the thoughts I have had about thee, and my trials and consolations in losing and gaining friends. We have about 14,000 members, between 70 and 80 traveling preachers, between 30 and 40 circuits. Four clergymen³ have behaved themselves friendly in attending Quarterly Meetings, and recommending us by work and letter. They are Mr. Jarratt, in Virginia, as you know; Mr. Pettigrew,⁴ North Carolina; Dr. Magaw,⁵ Philadelphia; and Mogden⁶ in East Jersey. You have heard of the divisions about that improper question proposed at the Deer Creek Conference⁷: “What shall be done about the ordinances?’’ You know we stood foot by foot to oppose it. I cannot tell you what I suffered in this affair. However, God has brought good out of evil, and it has so cured them, that I think there will never be anything formidable in that way again. I hope if any preachers are to come over here at any future day you will be one. I admire the simplicity of our preachers. I do not think there has appeared another such a company of young devoted men. The Gospel has taken a universal spread. You have heard what great things God has done in the Peninsula, since about these eighteen months that I thought it most prudent to stay at Delaware. And an exceeding great work we have had there, and on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. So that my labors were not in vain.

Since I have been ranging through Virginia, toward the Alleghany, and Maryland, Pennsylvania and East and West Jerseys, and the Peninsula, 1 enjoy more health than I have for twenty years back. I travel 4,000 miles in a year, all weathers, among rich and poor, Dutch and English. O my dear Shadford, it would take a month to write out and speak what I want you to know. The most momentous is my constant communion with God as my God; my GLORIOUS victory over the world and the devil. I am continually with God. I preach frequently, and with more enlargement of heart than ever.

O America! America! it certainly will be the glory of the world for religion! I have loved, and do love America. I think it became necessary after the fall that Government should lose it. Your old national pride, as a people, has got a blow. You must abate a little. O let us haste in peace and love, where we shall know, love, and enjoy God and each other, and all the differences in Church and State, and among private Christians, will be done away. F. ASBURY

Abel Stevens, History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, II, 126-28. Stevens’ note: “This letter was sent to America by Rev. Joseph Entwistle, of the Wesleyan Conference, and published in a periodical, the name of which has escaped my memory.”