March —, 1809 — to the Conference of the United Brethren

This letter was said to have been written in 1809. It was written at the Baltimore Conference. The Baltimore Conference met at Harrisonburg, Virginia, March 2 to March 8. The Journal

indicates that they had German preaching. Asbury had been most friendly with the German brethren. Philip Otterbein assisted in his ordination. Others were lifelong friends.

March —, 1809

[TO THE CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED BRETHREN]

Very dear Brethren:

We, the members of the Baltimore Conference, being deeply sensible of the great utility of union among Christian ministers and members (as far as circumstances will permit) in carrying on the work of God and promoting the interest of the Redeemer’s kingdom, viewing you as friends and brethren engaged in the same glorious work with ourselves, have, after mature deliberation, thought proper to offer to you the following terms, in order to establish a closer and more permanent union among us.

1. We think it advisable for your own good and prosperity that each minister or preacher who is acknowledged by the United Brethren should receive from your conference a regular license, which may introduce them to our pulpits and privileges and prevent impositions, as there are many who profess to be in union with you that are not acknowledged by you. And we would further advise that you favor each of our presiding elders with a list of the names of those ministers so acknowledged and licensed by you within the bounds of his district, that there may be no difficulties in admitting them to our privileges. And we would further observe that all our traveling ministers and preachers have their names printed in the minutes of our annual conferences, and our local ministers and preachers have credentials of ordination, or a written license, and we hope that you will admit none to your privileges calling themselves Methodist preachers but such as have their names on the minutes, or as are licensed as above mentioned.

2. As we have long experienced the utility of a Christian discipline to prevent immorality among our people, we would earnestly recommend to you to establish a strict discipline among you, which might be a “defence of your glory.” Our Discipline is printed in your language,¹ and we would recommend it to your consideration, to adopt it, or any part of it that you in your wisdom may think proper, or any other form that you may judge best. And that under a discipline so established you make use of every Christian and prudential means to unite your members together in societies among yourselves. By these means we think your people will become more spiritual, and your labors be much more successful under the blessing of God.

3. All those members among you who are united in such societies, or may hereafter be united, may be admitted to the privileges of class-meetings, sacraments, and love-feasts in our church, provided they have a certificate of their membership signed by a regularly licensed preacher of your church. And to prevent inconvenience, we wish you to furnish each of our preachers with a list of the names of all such members as may be in the bounds of their respective circuits, that they may know who are your members.

In order further to establish this union, which we so much desire, we have given particular instructions to our presiding elders and preachers who have the charge of districts and circuits where the United Brethren live, to admit your preachers and members, as above specified, to our privileges, and also to leave a list of the names of your preachers and members in the bounds of their respective districts or circuits for their successors, that they may have no difficulties in knowing whom you acknowledge as preachers or members.

Thus, dear brethren, you may see that we sincerely wish to accommodate you as far as we can consistent with the discipline which binds us together as a spiritual people. We think that we have proposed to you such terms of accommodation as will meet your wishes, and if carried into operation among you, we hope and believe a door will be opened for the general usefulness among and with each other. We are persuaded that the great Head of the church will smile on us and own our labors of love, and we shall be blessed in seeing our children converted to God and become useful members of that church which they may choose.

And now, dear brethren, we commend you and your charge to God, praying that the Lord may be with you, and bless you in your conference, and bless your honest labors to promote his glory and the interest of Christ’s kingdom in the world.

We are, dear brethren, your sincere friends and brethren in Christ. Signed by order and in behalf of the conference.²

FRANCIS ASBURY

WILLIAM MCKENDREE

A.W. Drury, History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, 796