September 16, 1802 — to Francis Asbury

A Letter of Jesse Lee to Francis Asbury

Asbury had been asking for reports. Here is one from Jesse Lee, and it was evidently what Asbury wanted. The letter shows that they were having another revival in Virginia. Here Lee is reporting on some of the oldest Methodist churches in America. The first of these revivals was in 1775 and 1776 when George Shadford was on the Brunswick Circuit. This letter is referred to in Asbury’s letter to Thornton Fleming of December 2, 1802.

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

September 16, 1802

[TO FRANCIS ASBURY]¹

I received your letter from Philadelphia, and was made glad to hear of the great things that God was doing in the north. You can recollect with pleasure the glorious things that were wrought in this district in the year 1789, but the unhappy division² which took place soon after, chiefly by one man, to the injury of many precious souls, was one great hindrance to the work. But the Lord has given some late gracious intimations of his presence amongst us once more, may we hope never more to leave us as a people. The work began on Whitsuntide, at a quarterly-meeting at Mabry’s Chapel,³ at which time and place about ten souls professed to be converted; and from thence it spread through many parts of the circuit; and I humbly hope from that time one hundred and fifty souls have been brought to God.

It will give you great consolation to hear that God has visited the families of the ancient Methodists, especially in the young and rising generation; among these are the Dromgooles, Wyches, Hobbses, and Pelhams. We had thirteen that professed converting grace at Merit’s⁴ Chapel, Brunswick Circuit. In Greensville Circuit there is a gracious work. It spread about Salem, from the last yearly Conference, and it came up from Brunswick Circuit. At Ira Ellis’s Meeting-house, at the last quarterly-meeting, we had twelve converted, if no more; among these Edward Dromgoole’s second son and daughter professed to be born again. In short, the Lord is bringing home abundance of the ancient Methodist children.

Sussex Circuit, that you recollect was favoured in the last revival, is visited in this; I understand that about one hundred have been converted in the space of six weeks. It began at Jones’s Chapel, at our quarterly-meeting; sixteen souls professed to have found a change. You will recollect how it was at this chapel in the year 1787, and God is gracious still. In the settlement of Lloyd’s Chapel numbers have been brought to Christ. There has been a great and gracious work in the Amelia Circuit. Many souls have been converted in Mecklenburg Circuit. The work is considerably great in Bertie Circuit.⁵ There is a small revival in Portsmouth Circuit. Camden Circuit has gained a little. I hear that John Chalmers, Sr., has been at Norfolk, and the flame is kindled, and many are converted. Remember me in all your prayers. I am, sir, yours in love,

JESSE LEE

M.H. Moore, Pioneers of Methodism in North Carolina and Virginia, 126-28