August 21, 1802 — to Thornton Fleming

Many of Asbury’s letters are in the nature of reports of the work. Except for letters there was no other source in those days for news. Here he is reporting on the camp meeting. He is also urging Thornton Fleming to report. He has much in his mind the “focus” which he later tried to get Alexander M’Caine to write. It was to be the history of early American Methodism. Unfortunately it was never written.

JOHNMILLBURN’S, VIRGINIA

August 21, 1802

[TO THORNTON FLEMING]¹

My very dear Brother:

I have delayed writing because I expected to have seen you. Sometimes I feel myself in a great fit of writing to the preachers, as if it came by fancy or inspiration. The exceeding great harmony I have found in the Connexion eastward, added to this the supply of ministers, and the prospects are very great for the time. In [New] Jersey we have a powerful work, Maryland, east and west. The Delaware yearly meeting attended by 5, 6, or 7,000, for five days, and most of the nights, was marked with great honor and glory. I hope 4 or 500 souls were blest, either with awakening, converting, or sanctifying grace. I hope, my brother, you will keep a small journal at hand, and select at least one narrative of all the extraordinary things of the great meetings, and of the number of souls professing awakening, justifying, sanctifying, or reclaiming grace. These things published as in “focus” from various parts, will amazingly move professors.² Oh, my brother, be wholly for God. I hope, if I live, to visit Redstone and Chillicothe on my way to the yearly conference in 1803 at Kentucky.

It is with pleasure we hear of a great revival of religion, from the extreme part of Kentucky to the center, to Cumberland, to North and South Carolina, and Georgia, you will see the souls God hath given us in fellowship by the Minutes. I hope for twenty thousand this coming year. You will do well to stir up the preachers and people to get as much money in readiness as they possibly can, where they do their work. We must strive to be as independent as we can; let all the people bear their own burden. I have no doubt but our Baltimore Conference will be moved, and it ought to go round to the different districts that belong to the Conference.

You will excuse me, my writings are very desultory. I am hasting to the Cumberland Conference.³ My Christian salutations attend all that ask after me.

I am as ever thine,

FRANCIS ASBURY

The Pittsburgh Conference Journal, February 8, 1834.

Transcribed by W.G. Smeltzer