July 15, 1806 — to Bennet Kendrick
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
ASB_VOL3.PDF, PDF page 435
Richard Whatcoat has died, and Thomas Coke’s proposals to return to America under certain conditions have been turned down. There is now only one active bishop. Asbury realizes that something must be done to strengthen the episcopacy.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
July 15, 1806
[TO BENNET KENDRICK]1
My very dear Son:
Grace, mercy and peace attend thee. Zion travaileth, she bringeth forth children. This is the great year of God. I have gone like the mail-stage three thousand miles since I saw you. I have passed and repassed from hence through all the States, in brief, from Baltimore to the District of Maine, through New Hampshire, Vermont, and the State of [New] York, campmeetings, campmeetings. I have heard of eight or ten north of [New] York. I attended three. Our Baltimore, Philadelphia and New England Conferences were blessed seasons.
On the Eastern shore of Delaware and Maryland it is reported, with all the certainty the case will admit, that about four thousand have been converted at the camp and quarterly meetings since the Philadelphia Conference in May, and one thousand sanctified. Peace and union in the conferences and city societies.
Dear Whatcoat,2 after four years awful affliction, and three months martyrdom of pain, with the gravel and stone, died in meekness, patience and triumph, July 5th. Such a man I never knew in Europe or America. Who ever saw him laugh, or heard him speak an idle word; unspotted character for forty-seven or eight years.
Dr. Coke3 has made proposals to serve the connection on a different ground, the conferences, all that have heard, have rejected the Doctor’s letter, the answers are all reserved, and sent on, for every conference has written. Nothing is hidden.
Indeed, I did think very seriously about building White Chapel at the other end of the town, wholly for the whites. I felt for the awful fire, poor Wilmington! You are on the right track, go on, slow, safe, and sure. I am just crossing the line for the Western Conference. Brother Crawford4 is gone to his home circuit; never I think will I take another man around the continent with me, unless he stands upon the same ground with myself. I will save my own and his feelings. I am alone in a sulky, and shall take help as it offers. Tell George5 his letter came to George6 of Boston. It was read in the Conference, I believe every man felt it. I wonder he has not written to some man of standing in every conference. I did not hear a single sentiment controverted. In writing to you I write to George,7 to all. I am in haste in earnest.
Thine the same,
F. ASBURY
P.S. Glorious increase of numbers of members—10,625. Increase of preachers 36—others like you swept the docket, no I will and I will not, shall, and I shall not. Judgment is begun at the house of God—one death8 —two expelled.9 Several, yea, all the conferences have furnished some choice and most excellent young men. Some dear good men are tremblingly alive for the Superintendency, they see it all but done—in the hands of a weak old man of sixty-one years of age. I feel something must be done speedily! Nothing but the expense of postage prevents me forwarding the minutes, they have been out a week. Southern Christian Advocate. Transcribed by Albert D. Betts
Notes (9)
- Unaddressed, but evidently to Bennet Kendrick, the pastor at Wilmington. George Dougharty was the presiding elder on the Camden District, South Carolina. ↩
- Bishop Whatcoat died in Dover, Delaware, July 5. He was interred under the altar of Wesley Dover Church. (See Journal, July 8, 1806.) The following is taken from the memoir printed in the Minutes, 1807, 388: “March 30, 1807, at the place of his tomb, Wesley Chapel in Dover; Bishop Asbury made some funeral observations upon the death of Richard Whatcoat, his faithful colleague, from II Timothy iii, 10. ‘But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, charity, patience.’ That he had known Richard Whatcoat, from his own age of 14 to 62 years, most intimately, and had tried him most accurately, in the soundness of his faith, in the doctrine of universal depravity, and the complete and general atonement. The insufficiency of either moral or ceremonial righteousness for justification, in opposition to faith alone in the merit and righteousness of Christ.—The doctrine of regeneration and sanctification; his holy manner of life, in duty, at all times, in all places, and before all people, as a Christian, and as a Minister; his long suffering, a man of great affliction of body and mind; having been exercised with severe diseases and great labours; but this did not abate his charity, his love of God and man, in all its effects, tempers, words and actions; bearing with resignation and patience great temptations, bodily labours and inexpressible pain. In life and death, placid and calm; as he lived so he died. Richard Whatcoat was born 1736, in Quinton, Gloucestershire, Old England, became a hearer of the Methodists at 21 years of age. Converted, September 3, 1758. Sanctified, March 28, 1761. Began to travel in 1769. Came to America, 1784. Elected Superintendent in May, 1800. Died at Dover in Delaware, July 5, 1806.” ↩
- See letter and notes, May 7, 1806. ↩
- Joseph Crawford. Asbury says on Thursday, July 3, “Joseph Crawford came over the ferry with me, when about to part, he turned away his face and wept. Ah I am not made for such scenes, I felt exquisite pain.” (See Journal.) Crawford was appointed to New Rochelle, New York. ↩
- George Daugharty. ↩
- George Pickering, presiding elder, Boston District. ↩
- George Daugharty. ↩
- Benjamin Iliff. ↩
- Minutes show only Sylvester Foster. ↩