August 22, 1804 — to Daniel Hitt

Asbury, though passing near Daniel Hitt, had not seen him and therefore writes again. He is greatly concerned with camp meetings. He tells about them and instructs Hitt as to how to conduct one.

SHEPHERD’S TOWN, VA.¹

August 22, 1804

[TO DANIEL HITT]²

My very dear Hitt:

May the God of glory attend thee in the grand cause of Christ and souls! My route through the Genesee turns out to be through [New] York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The New England Conference held in Buxton, district of Maine, four days and nights. We had between forty and fifty souls converted, a number awakened and quickened: it was great in the eastern blasted country. The preachers appeared greatly animated. My Jane is wounded: I have changed my beast. I had to call for the Minutes, and had to wait for the revised form to be sent on by mail to Baltimore. I am greatly gladdened to hear that three camp-meetings are appointed: the first in the State of New York; the second in [New] Jersey, both in September; the third in Maryland, Pipe Creek, near the Chapel.³ I am alone, I have taken the most social way. My journey since General Conference has been about 1350 miles. I have passed and repassed all the States north-east of Maryland. I have felt for the preachers in the east part of the work. I have told our preachers in Baltimore they ought to go out to the graveyard every Sabbath. O! alas for the towns and cities, they are very dead. We must go upon extraordinary ways and means, and the Lord will work till thousands are brought to the Lord. I am so sleepy this heavy weather, and I am so weary withal, I cannot write sense. Do write to me, to Charleston, a narrative of the work in your district. Daylight is going; I must conclude. I think never did a General Conference⁴ sit longer with more ado, and do less; and perhaps the less the better. I am, as ever, thine, F. ASBURY

P.S. I judge you will find it best to have two stands. If the work should break out at one, you can go to another. I wish you to be singularly careful of order: sixteen or twenty men as watchmen, to have their hours of watching. I would have them to bear long, white, peeled rods, that they may be known by all the camp, and be honored. Let them be the most respectable elders among the laity. Keep the preachers, travelling and local, listed; and call all upon duty. I believe, after we have established the credit of camp-meetings and animated the citizens, we must storm the devil’s strongholds. I hope the people will be as independent as they can at the Conference in Winchester.

F.A.

The Quarterly Review of the M.E. Church, South, XV (1861), 158, 159