July 11, 1801 — to Richard Whatcoat

A Letter of Thomas Haskins to Bishop Whatcoat

Whatcoat also kept a journal Part of it has been published in W.W. Sweet’s Religion on the American Frontier. Whatcoat’s Journal had been in Thomas Haskins’ hands. Haskins, the grocer and trustee of St. George’s and former traveling preacher, was also working on Asbury’s Journal. A comparison of Asbury’s and Whatcoat’s Journals shows that Asbury was much better equipped to write than Whatcoat and that Asbury had developed a great deal more literary skill and culture.

PHILADELPHIA, PA.

July 11, 1801

[TO RICHARD WHATCOAT]¹

Revd. and dear Father:

I this moment received your favor of this morning and in obedience to your wishes I send all your manuscript journals whichever came to my hands and I hope you will in due season decide on their publication and that they may appear to the eye under every advantage and become the medium of reproof, correction and instruction to future generations. You will please excuse my giving you a formal answer to yours of yesterday which has been duly received and maturely considered. I can and will hear almost everything you think proper to think of and tell me² and have judged it most expedient [?] to say nothing in answer, lest in saying what I might I should inflict a wound and give pain to one whom I love and revere equal to any man on earth. But if I am bereft of my father,³ I am bereft. Yet will I earnestly claim his prayers hoping that God may bless and continue us in Christ Jesus.

In haste, Your affectionate son and—

THOMAS HASKINS

The Historical Society of the Philadelphia Conference and Old St. George’s Methodist Church, Philadelphia