August 5, 1805 — to Francis Asbury

A letter of William P. Chandler to Francis Asbury

For several years Asbury had been trying to get reports from the presiding elders. He repeatedly criticized them because they did not write. Here is a good report from William P. Chandler. It is especially interesting because of its report on the camp meeting. It is said to be an extract.

DELAWARE DISTRICT, DOVER

August 5, 1805

[TO FRANCIS ASBURY]

Rev. and dear Sir:

As it is a part of my duty, to give you an account of the state of the district, in which I preside; I rejoice, that it is in my power to state particulars, which will, no doubt, afford you satisfaction.

When the appointments were made at the Conference,¹ in May last, I felt an inexpressible solicitude of heart, that our labours might be crowned with success the present year. The confidence and fellowship, that subsisted among the preachers, during our last sitting in Conference; (which confidence and fellowship have augmented among the preachers on this district, since that time;) gave birth to a hope, that we should have such times this year, as we had not known before.

Saturday, May 18, our quarterly-meeting began at Barratt’s chapel, for Dover circuit. A considerable congregation was assembled. At eleven o’clock, brother J. Aikens² preached; and there was a general influence upon the people. After several exhortations, the meeting closed with evident marks of conviction upon the countenances of many. On Sunday morning, our Love-feast was accompanied with the presence and power of God. After the love-feast, seeing that our house, (notwithstanding it is so large,) would not hold half the people; we made arrangements to keep the public meeting in the woods. Brother R. Lyon³ preached a profitable sermon; several followed with exhortation; after which, I explained to the people the arrangement and order of our expected camp-meeting, to be held, July 25, &c. At the close of our meeting, we had a gracious shower of divine grace; the people were much affected.

Saturday, May 25, at Milford, brother C. Spry⁴ began our meeting at eleven o’clock, and preached a useful sermon. Sunday 26, at our Love-feast, the power of God was very present; and the people spoke with life and animation. By request, brother Spry preached again today; and the people were refreshed and encouraged.

Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2, our meeting began in Lewes.⁵ At this place I preached to the people three times. Many of our brethren thought this a good quarterly-meeting, and the best Love-feast they ever attended. There is a work of God in the circuit: a few souls have been turned to God since the Conference, and believers seem to be much alive. From Lewes, I proceeded to Snow-Hill,⁶ where the quarterly-meeting was held, for St. Martin’s⁷ circuit, the 8th and 9th of June. Here we were highly favoured indeed. Many were so filled with the love of God, that they could scarcely restrain themselves so far as to give their brethren an opportunity to tell what God had done for them. At the close of the public meeting, the power of God came upon the people; so that from fifteen to twenty, at one time, were on their knees, crying for mercy. And the hearts of the people all thro’ the house were made so tender, that a few words spoken to almost any of them, would cause the tears to flow profusely. Three or four of the mourners professed to find a sense of the pardon of their sins; and evident marks of deep conviction were visible in the countenances of the greater part of the congregation.

June 15 and 16, we held our quarterly-meeting for Accomack circuit. Brother J. Seward preached at eleven o’clock on Saturday; and we had a good time. After our meeting was closed, the preachers, by invitation, went to the house of Major J.S. Kerr, about five miles from Accomack court-house. His lady has been, for some time, a member of our Society. We had not been long there, before the conversation turned upon the subject of religion; and I cannot describe the satisfaction I felt when I found his mind prepared to receive the truth of the gospel. He resolved the next morning, to make a public confession of Jesus Christ, by going to the Lord’s-table. This resolution he kept; and God our Saviour met us there in mercy and power.

At our Love-feast which followed, several persons professed to receive the knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins. As the house was not sufficient to contain one half of the congregation, we were obliged to hold our meeting under the pines. There the mighty power of God came among the people. O the praying, weeping and trembling! Surely this meeting will not be forgotten. It is probable that there never was a meeting in Accomack circuit, at which the people were so generally and so sensibly affected by the presence of the Lord. I think the greater part of the congregation might have been detained until sun-set.

On the 22d and 23d of June, the quarterly-meeting was held at Johnson’s⁸ meeting-house. We had a good time on Saturday, while brother Seward was preaching. Our Love-feast on Sunday morning was a refreshing season to many souls; and two in particular were able to say, before they left the house, that Jesus has power on earth to forgive sins. I have no doubt but numbers were deeply wounded with a sense of their misery; while others praised God for the things they had felt and seen. Saturday and Sunday, June 29 and 30, our quarterly-meeting for Anne-messick circuit, was held at Salisbury.⁹ At this place we had a blessed time. A few souls have been powerfully affected in this village within a few days; but I did not learn, that more than one or two got a sense of pardoning love at the quarterly-meeting.

There is a blessed work of God on this circuit. The preachers have taken into society many since Conference; a goodly number of whom are persons of much respectability.

July 6 and 7, a quarterly-meeting for Somerset-circuit, was held at Laurel.¹⁰ We had an encouraging time from the beginning to the end of our meeting.

July 13 and 14, we held our quarterly-meeting for Dorchester¹¹ circuit, at Church-creek. Here there is a rapid work. The preachers are engaged in labour almost night and day. They have taken into society more than six hundred members since Conference; and the work is said to be increasing. O my God, ride on and people the earth with subjects of thy grace! Caroline¹² quarterly-meeting was held at the new meeting-house, near Collins’ Cross-Roads, July 20 and 21. Because of the numbers that were assembled, we kept our meeting under the trees; and the Lord was with us. In the evening two souls professed to find the Lord, in the pardon of their sins. We had a comfortable time, both in the Love-feast and at the public preaching on the Sabbath; but we were obliged to hold our meetings in the woods. There are proofs of a blessed revival of religion on this circuit. A number have been brought to God lately, and believers are much stirred up. July 24, the day previous to the beginning of our campmeeting, I was with our brethren, on the camp-ground, making arrangements. Several preachers, with about fifty people, encamped upon the ground that night. We thought it prudent to keep a little guard stationed, for the security of the people and the camp; but we were not disturbed. Thursday, July 25, at sun-rise, the trumpets gave the signal for morning prayer; after which the people began to assemble from different quarters. At eight o’clock, the trumpets sounded the signal for public preaching: when the rules of the meeting were read.

Brother J. Lee¹³ took the stand, and preached from Isaiah 33:13. Brother J. Chalmers exhorted after him. The work broke out, and went on until the trumpets blew for preaching at three o’clock; but every thing was as orderly thro’ the camp as in a Court of Justice. At three o’clock, brother John Chalmers, from Baltimore, preached, and old brother Newcommer, a Dutchman, exhorted. It was good to be there. The congregation consisted at this time, of about 3000 souls. The work continued, and the people sung and prayed until the trumpets blew the signal for preaching at eight o’clock, when brother J. Totten¹⁴ preached from the third chapter of Habakkuk, and second verse. The awful power of Jehovah was displayed among the people. There were at this time upon the ground 28 travelling preachers, 26 local preachers, 12 exhorters, and about 3000 people; 123 tents, waggons, &c. in which the people were to sleep.

Friday 26, it was supposed, upon calculation that upwards of forty persons were brought to God the last twenty-four hours. This morning at sun-rise there were 189 tents, covered waggons, and carts, that were en-camped on the ground; some of these tents contained 20 to 30 persons. The trumpets sounded the signal for public preaching at eight o’clock, and when the people were collected together, the number was judged to be about 5000 persons. Brother Thomas Ware¹⁵ preached from 1 John 4:5. Exhortations were given by brothers Bishop,¹⁶ Totten, and Chalmers. At this period, people of all descriptions, from the grey-headed down to little children, were crying for mercy.

After the signal for three o’clock preaching was blown, brother J. Chalmers preached from John 14:12. The work of conviction increased considerably. At eight o’clock in the evening, brother James Aikens preached from Matthew 11:28, 29; and the power that prevailed in the camp, bespoke its great Original.

There was no intermission in the cries of mourners, the singing of the joyful, the praying with the distressed, except in the time of public preaching; and the calculation was, that from 60 to 70 souls, were brought to experience the love of God in the last 24 hours.

Saturday 27, at sun-rise, the trumpet gave the signal for morning prayer. There were upon the ground 189 tents, covered carts, and waggons; 32 travelling preachers, 37 local preachers, 15 exhorters, and 24 leaders, with about 1,000 carriages, and from 7 to 8,000 people. When the trumpets gave the signal for public preaching at 8 o’clock, Brother J. Lee preached from John 16:20. Brother Sneath¹⁷ exhorted. Many persons professed to experience an increase of grace last night and this morning. At three o’clock, brother R. Lyon preached, and brother J. Chalmers exhorted. The work of God appeared to increase. At 8 o’clock in the evening brother W. Bishop¹⁸ preached. At this time there was an awful power of God among the people; and many were in great distress of soul. It was judged by some that in the course of the last 24 hours, from 150 to 200 persons, tasted that the Lord is gracious. At twelve o’clock, brother J. Chalmers drew off a part of the congregation, (which at that time consisted of 9 or 10,000 people,) and preached to them a sermon against Deism. At three o’clock the signal was given. Brother E. Chambers¹⁹ preached from 1 Peter 4:16. The provisions failing, and the people being at a distance from home, a number left the ground after preaching. At five o’clock the Sacrament was administered, and great grace followed.

At 8 o’clock, after the usual ceremony, brother Sneath preached from part of the 10th verse of the 25th of Matthew, and the work of conviction and conversion continued without intermission thro’ the night. Monday 29, after the usual signal, we had a moving time at morning prayer. At seven o’clock we prepared for our Christian parting. It was ushered in by two of the preachers walking around the camp, blowing the trumpets; after this, the preachers all assembled on the preaching stand, with the congregation before them. Brother J. Lee spoke a little upon the occasion. The preachers then fell upon each other’s necks and wept. After which, we took leave of the people, expecting to see many of them no more, until we meet in our Father’s house above. The place was truly a Bochim.²⁰ O my God, if such love can exist among mortals, what will be our joy if we meet around thy Throne.

I am, dear Sir, your obedient Son in the Gospel, &c.

WILLIAM P. CHANDLER

The Methodist Magazine, XXIX, 188