January 7, 1801 — to Ezekiel Cooper

The South Carolina Conference met in Camden, and Asbury

records that he wrote many letters north on the seventh and eighth. Ezekiel Cooper was evidently chafing some under the criticism that came to the Book Agent, and Asbury was sympathizing with him. [CAMDEN, S.C.]¹

January 7, 1801

[TO EZEKIEL COOPER]²

My dear Cooper:

Grace and peace be with thy spirit. I have meditated a letter to you for some months. We have had a gracious season in conference for five days. Brother Blanton³ is located. Stith Mead, presiding elder, is to preside in the State of Georgia, James Jenkin in South Carolina. Brother Blanton showed me an answer of $1,000, by John Harper. William M’Kendree, you perhaps know by this, commands in the west. John Kobler⁴ was appointed to the Richmond District, but I fear he has failed. I heard that P. Bruce was at his father’s in North Carolina. I desired him, upon his return, to see if J. Kobler was upon his station; if not, to take it himself; if Brother Kobler was in place, I desired Brother Bruce to go to Norfolk. We will do what little we can to collect for you; but we might as well climb to the moon as attempt to get some of those debts.

I thank you for the advice given of the middle ground.⁵ We have some time to consider upon it between this and the yearly conference, when it will probably be brought before the yearly conference; at least, we may suppose, the presiding elder and elder will implead each other at the Conference.

I had no doubt but you would feel like wishing to be out of the business of book-making; but, my dear, it is not so easily done. You will have many a shot. I say in all company, when I speak, that you are deeply concerned for the interest of the Connection, and go very near the wind [?] in all your movements for our good. You are easy of access, I have found; readily pacified by a word or a line; you are not a man of intrigue, but open, and therefore I love you. The very thought that I gave you a nomination to your appointment is enough; those that dislike me will disapprove of you. I advise you, as a friend, to retire into your own business as much as possible. I only wish that those who think hardly of you or me could, if it were right, be punished with our places they so much envy; but many would. God forbid! and we also will oppose it.

I think our Scripture Catechism is one of the best in the world, but it could be mended by you, and laid before the next Conference in the amendment. I gave the outlines to John Dickins.⁶ I think now if you propound in your own language questions such as these, What is the duty of parents? What is the duty of husbands, wives, children, ministers, rulers, subjects, masters, servants? What is the duty of Christians one to another? and so on, and answer them wholly in Scripture, it would, in my view, be most excellent. We could enforce catechising if we had a complete guide. Thine,

F. ASBURY

Garrett Biblical Institute Library