Asbury’s letters and related documents · Record 254

April 24, 1808 — to Alexander M’caine

Signed in the source: Francis Asbury.

ASB_VOL3.PDF, PDF page 486

This is only a postscript to a letter, the main part of which M’Caine does not quote. Asbury refers to the misunderstandings between the brethren over Coke. At this time he seems particularly careful not to create discord with the British connection. Asbury had evidently received Coke’s letter explaining his famous letter to Bishop White. The White letter is quoted by Paine.

[NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT]

April 24, 1808

[TO ALEXANDER M’CAINE]¹

I have been grieved in former times with some little misunderstandings between the American connexion; I now wish to guard against anything that might make discord between us and the British connexion through Dr. Coke.² We should all be pious, prudent and pure and entertain high and honorable thoughts of each other. * * * I leave you to make a prudent use of what I have written. I am yours in Jesus as ever,

FRANCIS ASBURY

A1exander M’Caine, Letters of the Organization and Early History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1850, 153

Notes (2)

Letter is not addressed. It seems to be to M’Caine. ↩
See letters of August 30, 1804, and December 27, 1806, including Coke’s letters; also Coke’s letters of February 2, 1807, and November 16, 1807. See Paine, Life and Times of William McKendree, 144, 145. ↩

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