September 12, 1797 — to Jesse Lee

Jesse Lee was one of the founders of American Methodism, being the father of New England Methodism. The New England

Conference had been set to be held in Wilbraham on September 19, 1797. Because of his illness Asbury could not go. Lee was appointed to preside over the conference. The letter is most interesting, especially in the light of the letter which Jesse Lee wrote to Asbury on April 10, 1815, and which is printed with these letters. Asbury evidently expected Lee to be elected to the episcopacy. The whole letter does not appear in either Jesse Lee’s history or Tigert’s constitutional history. The paragraphs printed here are taken from both sources.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

September 12, 1797

[TO JESSE LEE]¹

My very dear Brother:

I am convinced that I ought not to attempt to come to the Conference at Wilbraham. Riding thirteen miles yesterday threw me into more fever than I have had for a week past. It will be with difficulty I shall get back. I have sent Brother Wells² who next to Jonathan³ has seen much of my continual labour and afflictions for many days and miles. The burden lieth on thee; act with a wise and tender hand; specially on the stations. I hope it will force the connection [his poor health] to do something and turn their attention for one to assist or substitute me. I cannot express the distress I have had in all my afflictions for the state of the connection. We say the Lord will provide. True, but we must look out for men and means. The Lord could have provided without such a poor, worthless creature as I am crossing the Atlantic. You and every man that thinks properly, will find it will never do to divide the North from the South. Methodism is Union all over; Union in exchange of preachers; Union and exchange of sentiment; Union and exchange of interests; we must draw resources from center to circumference.

[There must have been at this time, growing out of the O’Kelly schism, some talk of dividing the Church on sectional lines. The bishop was, as indicated in the letter, in great distress, both in mind and body. Again, in the same letter, he says to Mr. Lee:] Your brethren in Virginia wish you to come forth. I think the most general and impartial election may take place in the yearly Conferences; every one may vote, and in General Conference, perhaps, one-fifth or one-sixth part would be absent. I wish you to come, and keep as close to me and my direction as you can. I wish you to go, after the Conference soon to meet in New York, to Georgia, Holston, and Kentucky, and perhaps come to Baltimore in June, if the ordination⁴ should take place, and so come on to the Eastern Conference. FRANCIS ASBURY⁵

Jesse Lee, A Short History of the Methodists, 481-82