December 23, 1802 — to Ezekiel Cooper

After giving an account of his travels, Asbury discusses with Ezekiel Cooper questions relating to the book business. Cooper was handling these matters. Asbury is especially interested in his own books. It seems he had published three. He also gives the plan for his route north and makes comment in the postscript on the situation at St. George’s Church.

BLACK RIVER, 20 MILES

FROM CAMDEN [S.C.]

December 23, 1802

[TO EZEKIEL COOPER]¹

My very dear Brother:

May grace and peace be with you now and ever.

I opened your letter with expectations of general intelligence from the north, as I have been absent for near 4 months, but merchants must square their accounts. My indisposition and lameness prevent me from the continuance of my route to Georgia and as I had laid on near 1000 miles at the East, I had to take off 400 at the south; by this means I received your letter a few days ago. I have not seen N. Snethen since I saw him on [New] York. He supplied my appointments to Kentucky but was lamed in his route, by the fall of his horse; he lay in Kentucky till after the Cumberland Conference; and then hearing that I was crippled he roused up, and crossed the Alps² and my path, and supplied the appointments in Georgia; and I came down the state of South Carolina, directly to Camden. As to Bishop Whatcoat, I have not seen him since we parted in the district of Maine on the fourth of July, if you know where he is give my love to him. I have one thing to comfort me in all my toil and pain, and care, that is the revival of religion. Our Western Conference after twenty years labor is productive, we have added 3000 this year. The camp meetings in North and South Carolina and Georgia, have been equal if not superior to Cumberland, and Kentucky, and must supply an addition of hundreds and thousands to the Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptist Societies. I calculate if our God is with us, we shall make an addition in membership in the seven annual conferences annually, 21,000 and oh that they may be all Christians.

I should be accordingly sorry if you should think that any person suspected your honesty, integrity, or frugality, and industry. If any man envy our stations, or income, such do not consider our labor, or covet that. Indeed I have thought you have saved your wages in your work. It is my continual testimony that you are too close to the interests of the Connection; and others think with me; that our books ought to be made of better paper and binding. It appears that the cry for my own books³ is greater than ever, the Presbyterians would purchase and many others. I am of opinion that our books should be kept in the stores in small towns, and country stores, especially southward. I believe you might trust Isaac Smith with Hymn books.

I doubt not some will complain, that books not ours; and not so spiritual are printed, which they will call uncanonical and introduced whereas if our own special books, could be printed, others might then be advisable [?]. I have not perhaps heard the last of true Godliness; although no book is much more approved or profitable; you think often, as have need to do; of the moral “of not pleasing every body.” I have not seen Dr. Coke’s⁴ letters, but I have heard of them.

You wish to know my route to the north. I have sent the plan to Brother Snethen,⁵ as I had neither time nor ability to copy. I must write to you now, as I do it once a year; at and after the Camden Conference. I shall not have time. I have thought very seriously that as I cannot think of being absent at any of the conferences and considering Brother Whatcoat’s age and his not being able, or both not been in the habit of holding conferences; for next year I think of our travelling together. I must abridge both my preaching and travelling too extensively, not withstanding Brother Snethen is so universally approved as a preacher among preachers, and people, it is a burden in part to me, and the Conferences to support him out of our small allowances; and when anything is complained of as a grievance, I wish a relief. It is the spirit of the day, “save my money” in my route this year in attending the seven conferences. I have put the Connection to the expense of travel, and travelling expenses 131 dollars.

Be pleased to inform Brother Sharp⁶ I received his letter, and that I am not able to say where his next appointment will be. It may be he may recross the Delaware, but we must move constitutionally from [New] Jersey, his term is out. I will give you what information I can from my head of my route. January 1803 the third Sabbath in Charleston, the fourth in Georgetown, the fifth in Fayetteville, February 1st Sabbath in Wilmington, the second in Newbern, the third in Washington, the fourth in Halifax. March the fourth, conference in Virginia. Bishop Whatcoat or myself at Norfolk, the second Sabbath of month, the third, Petersburg, the fourth, Fredericksburg, the fifth, Baltimore. As to my appointments through the Peninsula I cannot be correct but I will send them forward. Everlasting love be with thee and yours,

F. ASBURY

P.S. As to the state of the Trustees in Philadelphia I shall be happy to find they have done their worst at dividing and will now do their best. N.B. If you could collect and have bound for me a complete Book of yearly minutes to the present year you would exceedingly oblige me but I doubt you have them now.

The Rev. William O. Hackett, Georgetown, Delaware,

owns original and supplied photostat