June 23, 1802 — to George Roberts

Asbury is traveling through New England and writes again to George Roberts in Philadelphia, who is still having trouble with the new Academy Church. The letter is mainly concerned with the publication of the Journal and the letters which had come to him. The committee in Philadelphia seems to have had charge of the publication.

BOSTON, MASS.¹

June 23, 1802

[TO GEORGE ROBERTS]²

My very dear Friend:

Grace and peace attend your spirit and the blessing of God be upon your labours. By this you will find that your letter had to follow me to Boston. I had hardly time to breathe after ending [?] upwards of thirty miles; before I had to read letters, and preach, in the finished house, to a very serious senseless people, 1 Peter 3:15. I called at Prescott, they have finished their house. I called at New London, Brother Whatcoat preached, I scolded; the youngsters are wild and wicked. At General Lippet’s³ we had an unwieldy crowd, we had to ordain a Joshua Soule.⁴ I am according to my motto faint yet pursuing. I am pleased to hear that you have taken a reef in the mainsail, I hope you will in time take another; these high toned brethren must come down.

I wish you to preach but twice in the Academy Church, upon Sabbath Days, that will be sufficient, then you can go to St. Georges, Ebenezer, or Bethel. I am greatly concerned that we should publish a narrative of the work of God in letters. I have selected some scraps of letters that have been lying by me for years, they are marked and filed; Sister Dickins⁵ has them, and a book also. I wish the committee to devote an hour every day to make a choice collection for the press by the time I return. The manuscript I have, and what letters may come into my hands will be given up at my return. Brother Cooper⁶ has spoken to me upon the subject but I wish great attention to be paid to the work; and that any thing trite, or trifling should be struck out. I wish nothing but the wheat would be sent out in all our publications, and put upon a good letter, and very good paper.

You are at liberty to review my manuscript journals as a committee, and put in a word or two where the sense is not clear, and to strike out whole sentences, if you please. I am very sorry more care was not taken in Benjm. Abbott’s⁷ Journal. His reflections upon Brother Garrettson⁸ and myself might as well been left out. We have no need to reflect upon or against another, the world, the apostate Methodist will do that. I hope you will visit and comfort Sister Dickins.⁹ I judge she will have a heavy sea, my prayers attend thee. Give my Christian salutations to all you choose to represent me to. I am as ever yours

FRAN. ASBURY

P.S. I am sorry any disappointments should be made but we listened to our assistants, Brother Whatcoat’s appointments are out through the Lake Country, and I shall come nearly upon the same route. My appointments are gone, only it will be a delay; except in Kentucky. The Chaplain is here and I think he had better stay between Boston and Providence at least for a year.

Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference

(Lovely Lane Museum)