January 14, 1804 — to Thomas Sargent

Thomas Sargent was pastor with George Roberts in Baltimore in 1804 and was reappointed there in 1805. In 1806 he was

appointed to Alexandria, Virginia, in the Baltimore Conference. George Roberts was pastor at Light Street in 1804 and 1805. He located in 1806. Michael Coate was in New York in 1803 and 1804, and was moved to Philadelphia in 1805 and to Baltimore in 1807. Evidently Asbury had in mind moving Coate to Baltimore in 1804. However, Coate’s marriage in that year prevented the move. Coate’s brother Samuel had been pastor in Baltimore in 1802-3. CAMDEN, S.C.

January 14, 1804

[TO THOMAS SARGENT]

My very dear Brother:

Grace and peace attend thy spirit, now and ever. While I was premeditating an answer to thy letter, according to thy wishes; a second came from Elder Roberts, informing me that matters had not succeeded to thy wishes, and that you were about to return to your station. I had thought it might have been agreeable to Michael¹ to have returned.² I hope you will rub it out till Conference, and then a change may take place. I hope you will feel easy under your disappointment in your appointment; marriage³ is an holy and honorable station, but critical and important; and better to be done but once in a man’s life, for life, home, health is an object upon both sides. We must hope there is a providence in these things, and a man will be able to suit himself better or it may be better to continue, [single] in this all men must judge for themselves, that is, Christian men and ministers. I rejoice exceedingly at the prospects of the work of God. Our Western Conference commands 1200 miles in length, and six hundred in width swiftly peopling⁴ by one hundred thousand every month in a year besides that are born annually, healthy, fertile lands, and a renewal of religion. The Kentucky or Western Conference is the eye and centre of the West, at present we have upwards of 30 travelling preachers; in the South Conference about 40. We have great openings and I feel as if 1804 would be a year exceeding all we have yet known in America.

Men of little minds will be imitating bad examples, and the malignant fever of division may spread from great to little men, and from great to small places: we have great revivals of religion in our cities and towns but is in building churches, in church divisions, in struggles for power to rule the ministry and form them to their own wishes, and parties and passions. Oh Timothy keep that which is committed to thy charge, never be bought or sold or swayed from rectitude and rules of right. I am happy to hope the travelling ministry and Conference will keep clear of parties. We have great union in the body and we should pray for a healing, loving spirit. I have sent off your letter but your people were not in my way. My love and Christian salutations to all you please. I am as ever thine, FRANCIS ASBURY

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