November 18, 1807 — to Stith Mead

The letter to Stith Mead of July 30 indicated that Mead might have to give up the presiding eldership. Evidently he has done this. Joseph Pinnell was on the Amherst Charge in 1807. In 1808 he was made presiding elder of the Richmond District in Mead’s place, and Mead was pastor in Richmond.

SPARTA, GA.

November 18, 1807

[TO STITH MEAD]¹

My dear Mead:

May great grace attend you in your great trials and chances. I think it in duty and safety to inform you I have written an appointment to Brother Pinnell to oversight the district in your absence till conference. The greatness of the charge, the difficulties² that have arisen, your probable absence for 4 months, the genuine youth of all the preachers upon the stations, the age of the members of the quarter meetings, and the want of some man to stand in the gap, these things considered, you will at once approve my conduct in this matter. None but a father can judge a father’s heart, so it is with a superintendent. Had you known when you wrote last of what might have taken place, it would have given it in our power to have fixt the matter before you came away, in a better manner. The charge of souls is great, we must know no man after the flesh, in such cases. I am your great afflicted, brother, but most disinterested friend, in Jesus, F. ASBURY

Drew University Library