July 3, 1793 — to Thomas Morrell

Here is evidence that Asbury was not infallible in his

appointments. He wishes he had made some of them different. Also it shows his concern for the “Dutch”-speaking people. Several of his letters show his great concern for the people who spoke in languages other than English.

WYOMING, NEW YORK

July 3, 1793

[TO THOMAS MORRELL]¹

My very dear Brother:

Every occurrence gives an opportunity of information. These frontier circuits here suffer the want of my presence to see the state of matters… Will you, the next letter you have an occasion to write to John Dickins, direct said Dickins to desire Daniel Hitt, on the Pittsburgh circuit, to take the earliest opportunity to let Valentine Cook, upon the Clarksburg circuit, know to come and meet me at the Baltimore conference, Oct. 20, 1793. I have found a vast body of Dutch on the Northumberland circuit, and the said Cook can preach in Dutch. Had I known it at conference I would have stationed him there. I believe there are several young men who will do as well on Clarksburg as he.

I am convinced I ought to station preachers all the year; and it appears not right to take all the preachers away. There are such disorders it gives a great opening to men, devils and sin. Our poor preachers keep Lent a great part of the year here. Our towns and cities, at least our conferences, ought not to let them starve for clothing. I have had a pretty long campaign in the backwoods ever since March. I judge it will be best for half the preachers from Albany, Massachusetts and [New] Jersey to attend at [New] York conference, that we may keep the work going on. I think we must absolutely never let the preachers wholly leave their circuits; this is what was never suffered in England for fear of havoc. It is pressing times in America.

Thine as ever,

F. ASBURY

Louis D. Palmer, Heroism and Romance, Early Methodism in

Northeastern Pennsylvania, 100-101