May 29, 1789 — to the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States
ASB_VOL3.PDF, PDF page 96
Answer of George Washington to Asbury and Coke
The New York Conference of 1789 ordered an address to be presented to the recently inaugurated President Washington. John Dickins and Thomas Morrell were appointed to wait on him and request him to designate a day for the reception of the bishops. May 29 was appointed. Morrell says, “Asbury with great self possession read the address in an impressive manner. The President read his reply with fluency and animation. They interchanged their respective addresses; and, after sitting a few minutes, we departed.”1
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
May 29, 1789
TO THE BISHOPS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES
Gentlemen:
I return you individually, and through you to your Society collectively in the United States, my thanks for the demonstration of affection and the expression of joy offered in their behalf on my late appointment. It shall be my endeavor to manifest the purity of my inclinations for promoting the happiness of mankind, as well as the sincerity of my desires to contribute whatever may be in my power toward the civil and religious liberties of the American people. In pursuing this line of conduct, I hope, by the assistance of the Divine Providence, not altogether to disappoint the confidence which you have been pleased to repose in me.
It always affords me satisfaction when I find a concurrence of sentiment and practice between all conscientious men, in acknowledgements of homage to the great Governor of the universe, and in professions of support to a just civil government. After mentioning that I trust the people of every denomination who demean themselves as good citizens will have occasion to be convinced that I shall always strive to prove a faithful and impartial patron of genuine vital religion, I must assure you, in particular, that I take in the kindest part the promise you make of presenting your prayers to the throne of grace for me; and that I likewise implore the Divine benediction on yourselves and your religious community. GEORGE WASHINGTON
Washington papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Notes (1)
- Quoted in Stevens, History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, II, 501. ↩