December 30 [?], 1802 — to George Roberts

George Roberts was at this time possibly Asbury’s closest friend and confidant among the pastors. The letter has been defaced in several places, and it is not possible to fill the blanks. Asbury’s comments on baptism are very interesting.

CAMDEN, S.C.

December 30 [?], 1802

[TO GEORGE ROBERTS]¹

My very dear Brother:

My indisposition hath prevented me on my route to Georgia, and brought me the 10th day over to Camden. I retired to a brotherly friend’s house to write a few letters, and I shall forestall a letter to you, because in the time of conference, and immediately after, I shall be in haste. I have learned in affliction and the keenest pain to say the will of the Lord be done, and it is all right, for although I have laid on near one thousand miles east I was for going on to Georgia till the Lord stopped me. I have the only consolation, a minister of Christ can have, to see the prosperity of the work; and the confidence and love of the preachers and people, and not Methodists alone. Nothing else can be wanting, but more thousands in the nation. We have added upwards of three thousand in the Western Conference this year; and we shall not fall much short in the South Conference. The campmeetings have been blessed in North and South Carolina, and Georgia. Hundreds have fallen and have felt the power of God. I wish most sincerely that we could have a campmeeting at Duck Creek² out in the plain south of the town, and let the people come with their tents, wagons, provisions and so on. Let them keep at it night and day, during the conference; that ought to sit in the meeting. Since I began —— I have received 3 letters —— M’Caine,³ to —— Thomas Lyell⁴ and another —— are well and —— in Philadelphia, we have large accounts from Norfolk and Portsmouth ——— of a work begun by old Father Chalmers.⁵ Jesse [Lee] wrote a few days ago good news of his district,⁶ at large. I hope you are not offended, and therefore will not write. Once a year I am willing to write a long letter to my brethren. My brethren in writing are not all like you, they do not write long letters of general intelligence. They must suppose that I wish to hear of every district, circuit and society where there is any revival, and anything extraordinary that has taken place.

I must believe there are some good and great men among the Presbyterian ministers, and a revival of religion and some fellowship and friendship subsists between us and these; yet there is a jealousy in us; but the walls of prejudice are falling. Many young people, and some elders come over to us, but as to John’s⁷ people; they are contrary to all people and they sweep the young people into the water, that got converted at the great meeting, and our preachers in general, in exposed settlements, go on and preach baptism for baptism, and mode for mode, and the tide turns of sprinkling and pouring for dipping. In general I am persuaded we have not preached sufficiently on baptism and Christian perfection. Your letter will come too late I fear for answer, however strife continues in St. Georges⁸ but —— I hope both parties have —— has been long war between the —— shall the sword reach to the very —— terminate in the destruction of the house of Saul. Oh that they would strive to do their best as brethren.

Our preachers are in general health and union. I shall be thankful of your advice. It is a burden to me and the conference to keep my assistant, and although the people and preachers are charmed with Brother Snethen,⁹ the case is so that I think Brother Whatcoat¹⁰ and myself ought to travel together, for although he cannot do much in conference he is an excellent counsellor. It is so with me that I cannot content myself to be absent from one conference in the union; if I should be lame or die in the attempt. My way will be only to preach about three times a week and make no more such air balloon plans. Hard necessity unforeseen justifies my sending Brother Snethen, and the people were generally satisfied and my laming at Cumberland made it so he had to supply the whole western and southern route; only I came down this state. I have had one thought about our citizens in general. I wish they would lay aside the use of wine and strong drink in general. God would suddenly and certainly work. I am determined not to go out of my way on that matter for five hundred presidents and all the bishops in the world. I am sincerely thine.

FRANCIS ASBURY

Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference (Lovely Lane Museum)