May 29, 1789 — to the President of the United States

This is not the first letter to George Washington. On April 24, 1786, a letter was written from Asbury at Alexandria to George Washington. This was before he became President. Coke and Asbury visited Mount Vernon on June 26, 1785. When Washington was elected President, Coke and Asbury, with Morrell presented a letter to Washington in New York. Major Thomas Morrell¹ had served under Washington in the Revolution. He later became a Methodist preacher.

The Address of the Bishops of the Methodist-Episcopal Church. NEW YORK, N.Y.

May 29, 1789²

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Sir:

We the bishops of the Methodist-Episcopal church, humbly beg leave, in the name of our society collectively in these United States, to express to you the warm feelings of our hearts, and our sincere congratulations, on your appointment to the presidentship of these states. We are conscious from the signal proofs you have already given, that you are a friend of mankind; and under this established idea, place as full a confidence to your wisdom and integrity, for the preservation of those civil and religious liberties which have been transmitted to us by the providence of GOD, and the glorious revolution, as we believe, ought to be reposed in man. We have received the most grateful satisfaction, from the humble and entire dependence on the Great Governor of the universe which you have repeatedly expressed, acknowledging him the source of every blessing, and particularly of the most excellent constitution of these states, which is at present the admiration of the world, and may in future become its great exemplar for imitation: and hence we enjoy a holy expectation that you will always prove a faithful and impartial patron of genuine, vital religion—the grand end of our creation and present probationary existence. And we promise you our fervent prayers to the throne of grace, that GOD Almighty may endue you with all the graces and gifts of his Holy Spirit, that may enable you to fill up your important station to his glory, the good of his church, the happiness and prosperity of the United States, and the welfare of mankind.

Signed in behalf of the Methodist-Episcopal church,

THOMAS COKE,³

FRANCIS ASBURY

Washington papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress