February 4, 1801 — to George Roberts

Asbury had been traveling down the eastern coast of the country. George Roberts, the pastor of Light Street Church in Baltimore, had sent him by letter some report of the work in Baltimore and Maryland, but not enough. Asbury was disturbed because he could not get reports of the work, and he says so.

KINGSTON, S.C.

February 4, 1801¹

[TO GEORGE ROBERTS]

My most dearly beloved Brother:

What so long expected came at last from you and Brother Morrell.² We came along west of Charleston and sent a messenger to bring our letters to Kingston 100 miles on this side Charleston. We mark the pillar and the flame of fire that are the Providence and work of God. Withall if we reach Baltimore, travel about 5000 this year; but we have formed a place for future operation of about 6000; and to know no city or town after the flesh, but a night and away, and to visit most if not every district in the Union once in a year. My health is restored. Brother Whatcoat³ takes off much public duty that I cannot attend to, with my other load. I have sold my carriage and Old Gray is as brisk as he can roll in flesh. We have seen unspeakable times in Cumberland among the Amish, Presbyterians and Methodists. I hope that 500 souls have been converted last year, the work bears all the features of what was seen in Maryland and Delaware and in Georgia. We have seen with our eyes; in South Carolina we have visited largely. We shall have a work in time. As to staying in Charleston I always paid to drink for the [whistle]. I used to go to the Warm Springs⁴ every season but I had nearly taken the flux in April. I was generally sick in Charleston of late years, nothing but regular and constant riding will do our work. We are called by the slave holders and Kellyites⁵ and by some that may have been disappointed Englishmen. We must rise by our attention to every part of our duty and all parts of our work and charge. South Carolina also to the [?]⁶ —— of religion in Virginia, some good appearances.

I am greatly disappointed that Wilson Lee hath not written me some account of the work in Maryland and Brother Morrell and you are brief on that subject. Brother Ware hath not written to me. Once in a year all the presiding elders ought to write to the Episcopacy, to collect into a focus the work of God, for the press, and I wish the preachers of [today] would write a brief of their conviction, conversion and call to preach and where they had laboured. I will select all the most spiritual parts of letters to print and to keep a history of what God is doing in the South. Of Philadelphia, I have heard largely, but it must rest till conference. I presume that elder, and elder, will implead each other at the Conference. I should be exceedingly glad if Brother Morrell and you, would both attend, the yearly conference, it will only be the loss of one Sabbath.

It is a subject of serious consequence where the East Conference will be no fear in cities where we abound with friends. The preachers are slack in going to their circuits, you will take the hint! I am a solitary man, I am much elbowed and courted in cities. Our work requires great dedication and much solitude. You will make a lift of a collection for Conference, the interest of at least, six thousand dollars never yet paid into the fund, besides a yearly collection as in Philadelphia after all our financiering the Chartered Fund is the best if it would yield 1400 or 2000 dollars it would give great relief.⁷

Our work⁸ opens in the Pittsburgh direction westward. I esteem it a degree of spiritual impoliteness not to answer a Christian letter, and a ministerial letter more so. Would the presiding elders write to me one letter only of the state of the work, I should rejoice and the city preachers also of the cities. We could give great personal information to the conference and individuals of the work of God. I have not heard of Mrs. Gough,⁹ if she is recovered. You may meet me with a letter at Norfolk about the last of the month, we are now upon the seaside way to Wilmington, Newbern, Halifax, Norfolk, and Portsmouth. Then Richmond, Fredericksburg, Alexandria, and so on. I beseech you to counsel Lyell¹⁰ you are near him. I am as ever thine and to the members of the Church of God in Baltimore I send Christian salutations.

FRANCIS ASBURY

Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference

(Lovely Lane Museum)