December 28, 1805 — to Thomas Sargent

Thomas Sargent was one of the pastors in Baltimore, and Asbury had had some news of Sargent’s father. It seems that Asbury was prompted to write because of the news. He makes an extended report of the state of the church.

CAMDEN, S.C.

December 28, 1805

[TO THOMAS SARGENT]¹

My dear Son:

May great Grace attend thee and thine. I heard of your father, and notwithstanding we travelled in the Ohio about 400 miles, we could see the dear old saint. I am told he is very zealous in religion. The magnitude of the Western Conference will call our attention, the oversight of 12 or 1500 miles and northwest, we cannot say what will be explored. 13,000 members, 5 travelling, 150 local preachers, half a million of hearers. We have sent out 7 missionaries, 5 to Mississippi, 1 to New Orleans, 1 to Illinois. We shall have to gather up possibly many thousand lost sheep of the house of America, besides the lost sheep of the house of Africa, and possibly the house of France, Spain, and Britain. We have 5 grand districts, Holston, Kentucky, Ohio, Cumberland, Mississippi. We have had very great harmony in our church whilst the new and old lights, Baptists and Presbyterians have [been] unhappy; and I fear heretical and schismatical jaws; and to crown all the Shaking Quakers are come to divide the spoil; and report affirms that two New Light Presbyterian Ministers with their scattered flocks have joyned those wandering stars; Add to all this, Mr. — — men bring up the rear.

I am happy to believe that the western world will afford a very great half of the new World. Many thousands emigrating from all parts of the East, to the West. We are resolved to begin and progress with other societies. I console myself with an increase of about 20,000 souls Joyned to the Church annually. Numbers are lost in the returns, and many by moving, and expulsion, and death. My returns since July from the presiding elders, and elders, have been partial, but I have a list before me of 2595 that have professed converting Grace. Every district of the 32 promises great success.

My dear Brother, I am thankful that you have made some exertions for preaching abroad. It shall not altogether be in vain. Oh let us preach and live; and live and preach. We have great hope of good at our conferences, in the seat of the [New] York Conference, it came afterward, in Lynn it came at the time. We have great confidence in love, want prayer, that the conferences have pledged to each other. We feel as if all the preachers and people upon the continent of the Methodist order are praying for us, when we are sitting, upon the charge of souls. Brother Roberts has suggested the African Church, as a proper seat for the Conference in Baltimore. I have thought the same. I have thought if in the long evenings, half a dozen brethren, that have a gift at congregational prayer were to spend half an hour in prayer every week night preaching, singing happily intermixed, a short Hymn, and then pray. Again if one or two should feel light, and like, to drop a few words of exhortation, in any part of the house not two at a time. We have found that the greatest degree of good, and strict discipline, is consistent with; and highly conducive to a work of God. My continual cry to the Presiding Elders is, order, order, good order. All things must be arranged temporally and spiritually like a well disciplined army. I calculate that the year 1806 will be one of the most awful years that was ever known in Europe or America for war and commotion, and I believe there will be thousands slain by the sword of desperate war. I trust thousands will be conquered by the sword of the Spirit in the new World. Present me to all you please Sister Sargent not forgotten. I am yours

F. ASBURY

P.S. Dear Father Otterbein, I have felt prior to information as if his time was short, one of the best men upon Earth.

Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference

(Lovely Lane Museum)