February 8, 1797 — to Bishop Coke

This letter shows some of the pressure Asbury put on Coke to stay in America. Coke and Asbury were beloved friends. However, Asbury had given up everything to become an American, and Coke was definitely an Englishman. His first loyalties were to his native land. On the other hand, Asbury never offered to turn over the episcopal functions to Coke and Coke felt it. Asbury records in the Journal on February 8, “Tomorrow my dear Coke sails for

Europe.”

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

February 8, 1797

[TO BISHOP COKE]

My very dear friend, Dr. Coke:

When I consider the solemn offer¹ you made of yourself to the General Conference, and their free and deliberate acceptance of you as their Episcopos, I must view you as most assuredly bound to this branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America. You cannot, you dare not but consider yourself as a servant of the church, and a citizen of the continent of America. And although you may be called to Europe, to fulfil some prior engagements, and wind up your temporal affairs, nothing ought to prevent your hasty return to the continent, to live and die in America. I shall look upon you as violating your most solemn obligations, if you delay your return.

If you are a man of a large mind, you will give up a few islands for a vast continent, not less than 1400 miles in length, and 1000 miles in breadth. We have sixteen United States for ingress and regress, rising not like little settlements, but like large nations and kingdoms. I conclude, that I consider you are no longer a citizen of Wales or England, but of the United States of America. I am, with great respect,

Your ever dear brother,

FRANCIS ASBURY

P.S. I give you this to remind you, lest you should forget what you have done, and what the General Conference expects from you.

Samuel Drew, The Pioneer Bishop, viii-ix