October 30, 1795 — to His Parents

The conference had been meeting in Baltimore, and Asbury was writing from there. He is disturbed because his parents had not received the money he had sent to them. The cheap gossip about him had irritated him, and he answers the criticisms. Interestingly, he reports himself as enjoying great health.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

October 30, 1795

[TO HIS PARENTS]

My very dear Parents:

I am pleased to hear from you, by Benjamin Rhodes, or any other person. I am sorry you had not received what I mentioned in my last. I wrote to you a few weeks back, from Philadelphia. I have delivered into the hands of my agent the supply for the present year. By a late letter I am informed it will soon be transmitted to you. Were it ten thousand per year, if I had it in my possession, you should be welcome, if you had need of it. No person could have been in more difficulty of circumstances than myself. It is wickedly reported of me that I collect money from the printing concern and college,¹ and send it home to my friends, in large sums. This is done by wicked men [whom] I have prevented from oppressing and robbing the Church of God. To cover their own baseness [they] charge me; so that my good to you is evil spoken of.

I hope you use carefully what I dearly purchase by riding six or seven thousand miles a year, besides sitting in and conducting conferences of two hundred preachers, and the charge of many things for the cause of Christ. The coat and waistcoat I now have on I have worn thirteen months, and I would not carry a second shirt if I could do without it. But all these things are but trifles. If you are wholly given up to God, the Gospel is preached to my poor neighbours and their children, I shall rejoice. I have enjoyed great health, and have travelled extensively through twelve of the United States, now growing into little kingdoms. I had hopes of seeing you, but now they fail, unless you come to me. My one prevailing desire is that you may make sure work for heaven.

I am often thankful you have kept open house for the word and people of God, almost forty years. Go on, my dear parents. You hear so often from me that you will think you see me, and I am very near you. Never give your souls a moment’s uneasiness about living. If I live and do well in temporals, you shall live also. Think not that any thing comes grudgingly from me. Could you eat wedges of gold, if I had them you should be welcome to them. I should be glad if you would take the time of my baptism from the church register, that I may know it perfectly. It will cost you but a shilling, unless that, as everything else, is doubled. Provisions are high with us; but workmen’s wages are in proportion. Four shillings and sixpence a day labourer’s wages in summer; and in towns common labourers gain that always. I am as ever your most unworthy, yet most obedient, loving son,

F. ASBURY

Drew University Library