May 2, 1809 — to Bishop Coke

Here are three letters put together. Asbury included in his letter to Thomas Coke a letter to Mrs. Coke. Coke sent the letters on to Joseph Benson to be published in The Methodist Magazine, and Coke’s letter is attached. In Asbury’s letters to Bishop and Mrs. Coke he shows his great devotion to Coke. There are indications that Benson edited the letters.

STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK

May 2, 1809

[TO BISHOP COKE]¹

My dearly beloved Brother:

May the goodwill of him that was with Moses, dwell with thee, and bind thy soul, and the soul of thy dear wife, in the spiritual, and eternal bundle of life! Myself and Bishop McKendree feel gratitude to thee, in receiving thy double letter. Our present prospects upon the continent, for piety, are exceeding great, and good. I fear, yet I hope temporal prospects will not operate against the work of God! First we congregate exceedingly largely in all the 17 states. A greater decency and attention are manifest in cities, towns, and in all parts of the country (whether we have tired opposition; for you know we American Methodists pray, and preach, and sing and shout aloud); but so it is; and I am inclined to think a general conviction prevails.

In some of our towns and cities, thought to be the most unpromising, we have had signal revivals of religion, for instance, Charleston and Camden in South [Carolina], and Fayetteville in North Carolina and New York. In Georgia admissions in one circuit last year about 600. In the West [Conference] with about 84 travelling preachers we spread over a tract of country, taking of the western claims of Virginia, and North Carolina; a space nearly equal to the ancient 13 United States (on the east side the continent.) Here the attention of the General Superintendency is drawn every year, by a northern passage near or upon [Lake] Ontario, and Lake Erie, on our return from Kennibeck River in the East. Its our country, we have to expand over 5000 miles in about 8 months, 7 conferences of six hundred preachers. And there are belonging to the Baltimore and Philadelphia Conferences about 100 preachers each, and it is now time to form a Northern, for the eighth conference.

As to quarter meetings, woods, and campmeetings, we have left off to number the congregations, or the subjects of grace, of hearers it is thought sometimes from one to ten thousand, converts from 80 to one hundred on a common scale of things at a meeting. In the State of [New] Jersey last year at 5 campmeetings in the district, it was hoped 500 souls converted, one hundred at each meeting. In Bohemia Manor,² near Richard Bassett’s Mansion house, a campmeeting held ten days; most wonderful day and night. People from Pennsylvania, Delaware, Baltimore, and perhaps Virginia and [New] Jersey, it being near the waters of the Chesapeake. We have made greater impressions in the States of Pennsylvania, [New] Jersey, and New York, in 4 years last past than in 30 in times past, it is nearly so in the southern states. Our numbers may rise to 8 or 10,000 upon our minutes for the last year but the wastage by death; removals, and expulsions will be felt with you, and with us, according to the whole number. We have a weighty married ministry. Our insolvency will be possible 8 or 10,000 dollars this year, our eastern brethren possessing nearly equal numbers with other conferences of preachers and more married preachers, and only about 10,000 people to support them. We have been begging near 1000 dollars from Georgia (onward as we came along, only private donations chiefly from preachers) they feel the want, and use, of a General Superintendency. I am now sinking under the weight of labours, and the 64th year of my life. Last year I had to travel upon crutches several hundred miles. The face of the country is such that I cannot use wheels without great trouble, and expense, yours is a very different country. One thing, my dear, respecting yourself, I think you should quit by degrees too much composition. I am afraid you may injure your health by writing so much. My journals lie by, I cannot permit them to be published unless a third copy was taken. I have not time, nor men. They were written in such haste, and my feelings are very fine and perhaps, if the people knew my sufferings, I should be in more danger than I am in at present. Now only the person³ that attends me, can know the whole and he the outward man only knows. I am reduced to sit down now to preach. I avoid preaching every day, and twice a day if possibly I can, but often drawn by plans I am made to preach every day, and my Assistant is to help, but it is sometimes midnight or break of day, before he comes to his lodging, he by night, myself by day, and twice in the day. I feel at times so in the spirit; a whole hour is soon gone, the people say it is so many years since you were here, and we never expected to see you again; and whether Bishop Coke is a small man, or great man, if an appointment were made for him, all the British Conference would not substitute him to the people. I feel distressed for Bishop Whatcoat’s poor relations, what he left will be of little consequence if they ever get it. Was it not that my calls are great I would out of my own pocket do something about it. A widowed family in this country, whose Father served God, the connection and myself; this family⁴ reduced by their careless management of property have called my all… in what words will not express.

F. ASBURY

May 2, 1809

My dear Sister Coke:

I have had nothing to plead for my want of Christian politeness in not personally addressing thee, elect lady, in my letter to Bishop Coke. Let your goodness pardon me in this. I am happy to hear from persons that have seen your manners, as being meek, modest, and unassuming, that you take a part in the work of charity, piety, and labour, in the word and doctrine. Excuse me Madam, I am a friend to female followers of Jesus, possibly. I preach to millions, and am served by thousands annually, add to all, my Mother was a woman of and among millions.

No country upon earth can produce finer women than we have in America, but connections, affections, relations are such that few enter into a sort of exile, and have no certain dwelling place. I am now sitting in a room in Conference with you, altho 3000 miles apart. And a sudden pang went through my heart, farewell my Country, my dear friends, oh my dear, my paper! my heart! my eyes! my tears!

F.A.

P.S. I am almost unmanned. Take care of Brother Coke, he must not write so much at this time of life. No words shall speak my love to you two in one.

The following is written down the inner margin and is obviously addressed once more to Coke himself. It was intended to be a postscript.

I am sorry my letter is so incorrect. But still the full heart hath not imparted half. I think with pleasure that there are very few sea ports or inland towns, but what we have posted ourselves in from Savannah to Boston, a coast, in its bays, creeks and shores possibly 2000 or 3000 miles and we are going on to Portland and utmost limits of the Eastern United States line. We strive to do all we can for the Africans, the poor sailors, and soldiers. O what a field we have, we have you. We read carefully our dear Father Wesley’s Journal.

Bishop McKendree is the man of your choice and mind; the General Conference was certainly directed of God. Beyond all expectation he is received with great confidential respect by all the conference and people, he helpeth me greatly but you know the mill-stone of appointments. This may possibly be my martyrdom but there cannot be better company of men upon earth to govern, but we have the people, the gifts, the support. You understand it will please me to present officially my Christian and ministerial salutation to my brethren in the British Conference most heartily.

F. AY.

The following letter as an appended note to the letter above was sent by Coke to the “Revd. Joseph Benson, the Connexional Editor of Publication.”

My dear Sir:

I beg of you to copy out just what you judge proper of this that I may have it returned to me, when I have the pleasure of meeting you, Deo volente, in London. You may add, if you judge it expedient, as a note as follows: Dr. Coke begs leave to inform his respected friend the Editor, that this letter was mislaid, otherwise it would have been sent to him sooner. I am, my dear sir

Yrs, affy, & faithy.

T. COKE

Lamplough Collections, British Conference. Transcribed by Frank Baker