February 11, 1807 — to Edward Dromgoole

Edward Dromgoole was an old friend of Asbury. His home in Virginia was Asbury’s stopping place. For a time he was a traveling preacher, but located and became a local preacher. Asbury foresees some of the problems of a delegated General Conference. He is concerned greatly for a strong general

superintendency. He reports on what was done at the Virginia Conference which met at Newbern, North Carolina.

PINNERS, N.C. [NEAR MURFREESBORO]

February 11, 1807

[TO EDWARD DROMGOOLE]¹

My very dear Friend:

Great grace attend thee and thine. I greatly desired to see thee, but duty calls me to Norfolk. I must travel like the mail stage, 5000 miles in 10 months, or less. The conference is appointed in Lynchburg next year. It is judged we must sit in a town. Glorious tidings, 1000 added in the Western [conference] the same as in the Southern, and 3000 in old Virginia, added nineteen preachers. Brother Chandler² reports, at campmeeting alone, in Delaware District 7 months, 7000 converted; and half the number sanctified. Brother Mead³ about 2000, Chandler had 150 days and nights, in the woods, Brother Mead 90. Our wicked towns and cities are greatly visited.

Campmeetings prevail generally. I have heard of Simeon and Levi. Brother Bruce⁴ is a Virginian, and Carolinian, your presiding elder. Before we left Newbern between 60 and 70 had joined society. I trust that it will be found that near one hundred were convicted, or converted at Conference; it was a great season. It was a time of love, and union among the preachers, our conferences in general are as the anti-chamber of heaven. An attempt was made under the patronage of the New York Conference —— when the Superintendency, the four eastern conferences concurred almost in unanimity, but it was carried [?] out with great odium in Virginia. I refer you to Philip Bruce, but it was all Simeon and Levi, O’Kelly⁵ over again. I have done what I thought, but if I am called away ere long, and all the conferences become separate and independent, I am clear. From the present fare of things in the year 1808 we shall minute 600 travelling preachers, 300 will be elders and claim a seat in General Conference, 150 will be within 200 miles of the place of sitting, the other 150 at the distance of 400 and others 800, to come 1200 and 1600 miles to General Conference. We may hope for only a partial⁶ promiscuous aristocratical spiritual body under no tie by constitution, or any check from the superintendency, doctrine, discipline, or order may go, but God will preserve. I had wished to retreat from the weight of the work, but when or by what means. I am like you, and all heads of families, the most to do in the last of life. From 16 to 62 years of my life I have been doing for others and my own soul. I do not wish to leave this connection as unorganized as Mr. Wesley from lamented necessity left the British, when we are in a free country; and may form as we think best. However I am a servant, and a martyr, if need be to the cause of God. He has blest me and by his grace I will not draw back, but think of all the ponderous load, but oh the prayers of God’s people.

One thing is and will be secured. We are missionaries, while I move others will, the same ——⁷ myself, —— shall have every order of —— life of the cause. I shall be pleased if you would write to me. I enclose a ten dollar bill for Father McKendree,⁸ sent by dear Billy.⁹ I suppose it is good, but you will keep the number. I took it from the South Conference. Billy was well and doing well, he sees as do others with me.

I believe all the presiding elders in this and other conferences, see and feel the need of a strong united superintendency, not very large but from as a threefold Lord. I am greatly happy in God and supported far beyond my own and the expectation of others. I have this to say, I never sought myself. My intention never was impure. My eye was always single, and that by the prayers of the people. God has given me support. I doubt there is such a man as Simeon¹⁰ (I put the eldest first) in the whole connection and yet I believe he does not believe me to be what his conduct sometimes signifies to me and others. Do write me at any time, or any town, or city, I go through I shall honor your letters as I do in general [?] that write to me. I am not immortal, glory to God everlasting.

Love attend thee, as ever thine,

F. ASBURY

P.S. We had 67 ministers. Six are gone to the South Conference, we are full in an enlargement with a number of young men, but we may expect departures from the work, it is surprising that notwithstanding we had but one married preacher, we were insolvent, near 1,000 dollars, either the Virginians cannot beg or the people are covetous or the preachers are laying up money and the people are withheld.

P.S. I refer you to Mr. Wesley’s notes and calculations on Revelations 17 chapter, and see where you can find the beast that was to rise and reign from 1834 to 1836, if he is not risen now, if so his reign will be short. Edward Dromgoole Papers, Southern Historical Collection,

University of North Carolina Library