August 10, 1802 — to Bishop Whatcoat

Bishop Whatcoat is getting more and more blind. Asbury misses him and gives a report of the work. He has evidently had a question from Whatcoat as to whether he should come to Camden, South Carolina, for the conference. Asbury tells Whatcoat that he must make the decision.

[PIPE CREEK, MD.]¹

August 10, 1802

[TO BISHOP WHATCOAT]²

My very dear Brother:

I am resting a day, and now give you a few lines. My dear Mother died January the 6th. I had my difficulties in New York. I found the people in St. George’s in a great flame with Brother McClaskey for reproving them publickly for some of their wild working in meetings. How far he was right in the taming and doing the work, I am not able to say. I opened Bethesda, that is the College Church, upon Exodus 20:24 verse, last clause. In Baltimore they are but so and so to accommodate the police of the City, the[y] have resolved to conclude all meetings at half after nine. The fever is very serious in Philadelphia, by our last accounts the people were fleeing. I have received a narrative of that great work in Elizabeth-Town. I have a letter narrative of the annual Meeting at Dover. Mr. Bassett³ thinks hundreds were awakened, as Thomas Smith⁴ found 100 before he had been round Dover Circuit. I have received a second letter from James Jenkin⁵ of three general meetings, one at Waxaws another near Rutherford Court House, and a third at the Hanging Rock among our people, and asked with great displays of the power of God. Mr. Jenkin writes “Daniel Asbury⁶ writes” they join fifty in going round the Yadkin Circuit and they think 1000 have been added in the Salisbury District since the Virginia Conference in March.

I must leave you to your own providence to come or not to Camden Conference. We shall all rejoice to see you, and you need not fear there will be enough to do, for you, and me and we ought in a particular manner to attend the Conference, and always to keep together upon the low lands, where the sea of troubles, always rolls upon me. I wish to have you, if you were blind, and could not preach at all, that we might only consult each other in matters of such great moment. I have left you all the letters I have received from the Doctor.⁷ When or where it will reach you, I know not, I am in health and peace of mind. I commend you to God and the word of his grace, as ever yours; and mine, to seek and find in all times of need. I am your tried brother of Europe, and America,

FRANCIS ASBURY

Garrett Biblical Institute Library