Seventh Month, [July,] 1790 — to a Quaker

Asbury’s great feeling of kinship in spiritual things for the Quakers is shown in this letter. There were Quaker meetinghouses in many of the states. Penn had settled in Pennsylvania, and his followers had been in Pennsylvania and in the other states. The famous John Woolman had traveled extensively in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, New England, Maryland, Delaware,

Virginia, and North Carolina in the ‘forties, ‘fifties, and ‘sixties. An early map of the Eastern states shows the Quaker

meetinghouses. There was a strong settlement of the Quakers at this time in Loudoun County, Virginia, not very far from Asbury. NEWTON, VIRGINIA¹

Seventh Month, [July,] 1790

[TO A QUAKER]²

My very dear Friend:

If I have a partiality for any people in the world except the Methodists, it is for the Quakers, so called. Their plainness of dress, their love of justice, and truth, their friendship to each other, and the care they take of one another, render them worthy of praise.

Would it not be of use for that society that make it a point not to come near any others, whether good or bad, to try all means within themselves? Would it not be well, thinkest thou, for them to sit every night and morning and, if they find liberty, to go to prayer after reading a portion of God’s word? As epistles are read from the Friends, would it not be well to introduce the reading of some portion of the Scriptures at public meetings? Would it not be well to have a congregation and a society—an outward and an inward court? In the former let children and servants, and unawakened people come; in the inward let mourners in Zion come. The Presbyterians have reformed; the Episcopalians and the Methodists; why should not the Friends? It was a dark time one hundred and fifty years back. We are near the edge of the wilderness. If this inward court or society were divided into small bands or classes, and to be called together weekly by men and women of the deepest experience, and appointed for that work, and asked about their souls and the dealings of God with them, and to join in prayer, one or two or all of them that have freedom, I think the Lord would come upon them.

I give this advice as the real friend of your souls, as there are hundreds and thousands that never have nor will come near others. These might get more religion if your people were to hear others; they might get properly awakened, and if you had close meetings for speaking they would not leave you. You must not think that G. Fox and R. Barclay³ were the only men in the world. I am sure there must be a reform, if you could move it in quarterly and yearly meetings for family and society meetings, and adopt rules for these meetings!

Would it not be well, thinkest thou, to preach against covetousness? God has blessed Friends: they are a temperate, industrious, and frugal people. Tell them to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, and always feel for the spirit of prayer at such times. Would it not be well to deliver a testimony at other places, if Friends felt freedom, and allow others to come into their meetings without forbidding them? Our houses are open to any that come in a Christian spirit.

I wish Methodists and Friends would bear a stronger testimony against races, fairs, plays, and balls; I wish they would reprove swearing, lying, and foolish talking; watch their young people in their companies; instruct them in the doctrines of Christ; call upon them to feel after the spirit of prayer, morning and evening, and strive to bring them to God! If I know my own heart, I write from love to souls; and although it is the general cry, “You can do nothing with these people,” I wish to lay before you these things, which I think are not contrary to the ancient principles of Friends, and I am sure that we are taught them in the word of God. Think upon them. My soul pities and loves you. You may fight against God in not inculcating these things.

I am, with real friendship to thee and thy people,

FRANCIS ASBURY

Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference (Lovely Lane Museum)