April 21, 1802 — to George Roberts

FROM APRIL, 1802, TO THE GENERAL

CONFERENCE OF 1804

April 21, 1802 - May, 23, 1804

CHAPTER 8

Another letter to George Roberts is from the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Asbury gives a report of the work on the shore. ANNAMESSEX,¹ [MD.]

April 21, 1802

[TO GEORGE ROBERTS]²

My very dear George:

I am often reflecting upon my folly, in my gay hours, half asleep and then awake. I told you I did not pity you when you were enslaving yourself for me, the conference, and the church, and your own family. I will not apologize but confess my fault and ask your pardon; it was an unguarded word. We have had very changeable weather and stretching work, but hitherto the Lord hath helped me, and my Brother Whatcoat.³ We have good prospects in all the circuits, but Talbot, and Milford are all for ingathering.

We shall have a complete house in Chester Town, after piety and policy have had their perfect work. By act of assembly, the house is to be set upon the publick square, where the market house stood, where they were opposed by the great in some attempts to fix else where. It was like the Light Street mysterious providence in Cambridge, the objects [objectors] have built a neat two story house with galleries, all round, when behold our most excellent church is but one story, and one front gallery. So much for a seige of twenty years in Salisbury after being defeated twice.⁴ —— In Snowhill [Md.] we have a house going up. I was told the Presbyterians offered to share with the Methodists if they would furnish the meeting house but our people would not. They were too big. I have found out the secret of the money paid in Philadelphia⁵ by the Society. A good brother went into the county begging and then went to the society with, what will you give if we can clear out the whole, so the matter ended. I hope you will be at home by the time this comes to hand. I have done with this coat, you may do what you please with it. I have changed my mind about two coats. I intend to have a bath cloak of black or white, and have it short so as just to touch the pommel of the saddle and to cover my arms. I wish you to be wholly for God, preach constantly upon the travail of souls, and perfect love, and practical godliness. It is thought by some old members our young converts are very light in experience, but they are on the way. God will deepen his ——⁶ in souls. Christ’s fan is in his hand. My love to all that ask after me. You see I am sleepy all on the wing. We have little rest, day or night. Oh for divine support. I must leave my old rags with you, give them house room. There are some little irregularities among the people but I think the best way to expel them is to treat them with neglect.

Oh my brother I hope you will by all means attend the market places. Oh for Christ’s sake seek his lost sheep, the outcast of men. You are strong in help, make the best of your time. If Nicholas⁷ is not gone I wish him to bring the oldest number of my Journal, one that is the oldest date, from Mrs. Gough.⁸ Mr. Bassett⁹ wishes you to be at their meeting, it is a new thing in Israel. I hope the conference will be returned to Dover on Duck Creek and I will cover that meeting.

I am ever thine,

F. ASBURY

P.S.

Calculation ——¹⁰

we came out and ——

not 3000 and ——

—miles from and to Philadelphia

Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference

(Lovely Lane Museum)

Said to be the only note in existence from the pen of Madam Elizabeth Russell, sister of Patrick Henry and widow of the Revolutionary hero General William Russell. She had formerly been the wife of General William Campbell, hero of Kings Mountain. After his death she married General Russell. Tradition in the family says that Mrs. Russell built an addition to her house with a room especially for Asbury, and this note was to Colonel Preston in reference to the payment. She also had a pulpit built for preaching. This letter was sent to her son-in-law, Colonel Francis Preston, at the salt-works. Mrs. Russell and the Prestons operated the salt-works. Salt from these works was used for troops in the Revolutionary and Civil wars. Original letter is property of Miss Nelly Preston, lineal descendant of Madam Russell, Seven Mile Ford, Virginia, and used by permission.